It has been declared the worst school shooting in national history.
(BLACKSBURG, Va.) - Shootings in a dorm and classroom at Virginia Tech may have led to as many as 21 deaths Monday in a shooting spree that began at 7:15 AM. The Associated Press reports that 21 more people have been injured.
The alleged gunman is also dead. Police are saying they are not sure if he died from police bullets or his own.
At one point, police had confirmed that a suspect was in custody, that information was reported via the university's Website.
The school initially reported that the shootings happened at opposite ends of the 2,600-acre campus at West Ambler Johnston. This co-ed residence hall houses 895 people, and then more victims were reported at Norris Hall, an engineering building.
Virginia Tech Students were instructed to stay in their homes away from windows. The campus was closed and classes canceled through Tuesday.
Officials ordered the campus closed, the second time in less than a year the 26,000-student campus was shut down because of a shooting.
Opening day in August 2006 will always be remembered as the day when an escaped jail inmate allegedly killed a hospital guard off campus and fled to the university. A sheriff's deputy died involved in the manhunt just off campus.
Media outlets are reporting the name of the accused gunman as William Morva. Again, there are conflicting reports at this time, but most indicate that the gunman is dead.
See the other Salem-News.com reports on the Virginia Tech school shooting: April 17, 2007: Virginia Tech Launches Memorial Website to Honor Shooting Victims (VIDEO)April 17, 2007: Virginia Tech Gunman Identified (VIDEO)April 17, 2007: Victims, Gunman Names Coming Out from Massacre at Virginia TechApril 17, 2007: Memorial Fund Established in Wake of Virginia Tech MassacreApril 17, 2007: Governor Orders Flags at Half-Staff in Memory of Virginia Tech TragedyApril 17, 2007: Massacre at Virginia Tech Leaves 33 DeadApril 16, 2007: Oregon Universities to Offer Counseling in Wake of Virginia Tech ShootingsApril 16, 2007: State Schools Superintendent Issues Statement on Virginia Tech ShootingsApril 16, 2007: Death Count at Virginia Tech rises to 33 Including GunmanApril 16, 2007: Death Toll Rises to 32 in Virginia Tech Campus ShootingsApril 16, 2007: Virginia Tech Campus Shootings Leave 22 Dead; Gunman KilledApril 16, 2007: Police Report Multiple Fatalities in Virginia School Shooting
Police Report Multiple Fatalities in Virginia School ShootingSalem-News.com