Virginia Tech Massacre Update

We will continue to invent the future through our blood and tears and through all our sadness ... We are the Hokies ... -- Nikki Giovanni, University Distinguished Professor, poet, activist

Photo: Virginia Tech University

(BLACKSBURG, Va.) - The Virginia State Police have closed their on-scene phase of the Virginia Tech investigation.

State, federal and local investigators are now moving on to the task of evaluating, reviewing, re-reviewing, and building a case to explain what, and as much as possible why, this tragedy occurred.

From this point, there will be little daily information to share from the law-enforcement perspective.

The media will be kept apprised of any meaningful investigative developments as they emerge.

In regards to the correspondence believed to have been sent by Cho Seung-Hui to NBC, investigators did have a chance to preview the contents of the package before it aired on the nightly news.

When the FBI took custody of the package Wednesday afternoon, it immediately became part of the evidentiary content for the ongoing investigation.

Investigators had hoped the correspondence forwarded to NBC would have been of significant evidentiary value.

While there was some marginal value to the information, the vast majority of it already existed among the evidence collected during the course of the investigation.

The writings, photographs and video simply confirmed much of what law enforcement already knew and had established during the course of this investigation.

Investigators have identified, located and processed a vehicle associated with Cho. This took place early on in the investigation.

The 911 calls made in relation to the shootings will not be released to media, as they are part of the criminal investigative file.

“Over the last news cycle, families of the victims have endured, the Virginia Tech family has endured, and indeed the world has endured a view of a side of life that few would and should ever have to see,” said Col. W. Steven Flaherty, Superintendent of the Virginia State Police.

“This is a side of life that a few years ago was only seen by those who have chosen to work in a profession responsible for managing and mitigating crime and violence.”

Classes to resume Monday, April 23rd; several options available to students

The first day of class will involve broad ranging discussion of these events from various perspectives. There will also be discussion of the options, which are available to students concerning their completion of the semester.

Classes will be continued with the elimination of one week of work. Students will have the option of requesting, on a course by course basis, that the semester grade be based on the faculty evaluation of:

Materials which have already been submitted for grade prior to April 16th, or the already submitted material plus any other assigned material which the student wishes to submit for grade, or the material that would have been submitted for grade upon regular completion of the course.

We Remember the Victims of April 16th, 2007

The following have been positively identified, and their next of kin notified.

Students:
Ross Abdallah Alameddine Hometown: Saugus, Massachusetts Sophomore, University Studies Student since fall 2005

Brian Roy Bluhm Hometown: Cedar Rapids, Iowa Master's student, Civil Engineering Student since spring 2005

Ryan Christopher Clark Hometown: Martinez, Georgia Senior, Psychology Student since fall 2002

Austin Michelle Cloyd Hometown: Blacksburg, Virginia Sophomore, Honors Program, International Studies Student since fall 2006

Matthew Gregory Gwaltney Hometown: Chesterfield, Virginia Master’s student, Environmental Engineering Graduate student since fall 2005

Caitlin Millar Hammaren Hometown: Westtown, New York Sophomore, International Studies Student since fall 2005

Jeremy Michael Herbstritt Hometown: Blacksburg, Virginia Master's student, Civil Engineering Student since fall 2006

Emily Jane Hilscher Hometown: Woodville, Virginia Freshman, Animal and Poultry Sciences Student since fall 2006

Jarrett Lee Lane Hometown: Narrows, Virginia Senior, Civil Engineering Student since fall 2003

Matthew Joseph La Porte Hometown: Dumont, New Jersey Sophomore, University Studies Student since fall 2005

Henry J. Lee Hometown: Roanoke, Virginia Sophomore, Computer Engineering Student since fall 2006

Partahi Mamora Halomoan Lumbantoruan Hometown: Blacksburg, Virginia (originally from Indonesia) Ph.D. student, Civil Engineering Student since fall 2003

Lauren Ashley McCain Hometown: Hampton, Virginia Freshman, International Studies Student since fall 2006

Daniel Patrick O'Neil Hometown: Lincoln, Rhode Island Master's student, Environmental Engineering Student since fall 2006

J. Ortiz-Ortiz Minal Hiralal Panchal Hometown: Mumbai, India Master’s student, Architecture Student since fall 2006

Daniel Alejandro Perez Hometown: Woodbridge, Virginia Sophomore, International Studies Student since summer 2006

Erin Nicole Peterson Hometown: Centreville, Virginia Freshman, International Studies Student since fall 2006

Michael Steven Pohle, Jr. Hometown: Flemington, New Jersey Senior, Biological Sciences Student since fall 2002

Julia Kathleen Pryde Hometown: Blacksburg, Virginia Master's student, Biological Systems Engineering Student since summer 2006

Mary Karen Read Hometown: Annandale, Virginia Freshman, Interdisciplinary Studies Student since fall 2006

Reema Joseph Samaha Hometown: Centreville, Virginia Freshman, University Studies Student since fall 2006

Waleed Mohamed Shaalan Hometown: Blacksburg, Virginia (originally from Egypt) Ph.D. student, Civil Engineering Student since fall 2006

Leslie Geraldine Sherman Hometown: Springfield, Virginia Junior, Honors Program, History Student since fall 2005

Maxine Shelly Turner Hometown: Vienna, Virginia Senior, Honors Program, Chemical Engineering Student since fall 2003

Nicole White Hometown: Smithfield, Virginia Sophomore, International Studies Student since fall 2004

Faculty:

Christopher James Bishop Instructor, Foreign Languages Residence in Blacksburg Joined Virginia Tech on August 10, 2005

Jocelyne Couture-Nowak Adjunct Professor, Foreign Languages Residence in Blacksburg Joined Virginia Tech on August 10, 2001

Kevin P. Granata Professor, Engineering Science and Mechanics Residence in Blacksburg Joined Virginia Tech on January 10, 2003

Liviu Librescu Professor, Engineering Science and Mechanics Residence in Blacksburg Joined Virginia Tech on September 1, 1985