# Shooting at Virginia Tech **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 16, 2007, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shooting-at-virginia-tech/400338 "2007-04-16T15:07:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2007, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shooting-at-virginia-tech/400338/21 "2007-04-16T17:24:43Z")
Sounds like there was one gunman in a dorm and another in a classroom. I heard one person was shot earlier, so when I checked the news again a few minutes ago and saw it was up to 20 or 22. Just horrifying. ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2007, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shooting-at-virginia-tech/400338/22 "2007-04-16T17:25:06Z")
[QUOTE=Tuckerfan] It’s the worst school shooting in US history. What makes a person do this? [/QUOTE] Columbine was a high school, this is a college. I don’t think you can compare the two. Two separate shootings? Oh, Christ. It’s a horrible situation. My thoughts and prayers go out to our VA Dopers. ---
**Author:** ![NinjaChick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/71c47a/32.png) [@NinjaChick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinjaChick)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2007, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shooting-at-virginia-tech/400338/23 "2007-04-16T17:25:09Z")
Jesus. CNN is reporting 22 dead and the gunman, I don’t know if the shooter is included in that figure. The VT president has a statement online [here](http://198.82.162.61/campus_alert.php); I’ll quote it here because it took me a couple tries to get the page to load. > [@](#): > > The university was struck today with a tragedy of monumental proportions. There were two shootings on campus. In each case, there were fatalities. The university is shocked and horrified that this would befall our campus. I want to extend my deepest, sincerest and most profound sympathies to the families of these victims which include students There are 22 confirmed deaths. > > We currently are in the process of notifying families of victims. The Virginia Tech Police are being assisted by numerous other jurisdictions. Crime scenes are being investigated by the FBI, University Police, and State Police. We continue to work to identify the victims impacted by this tragedy. I cannot begin to covey my own personal sense of loss over this senselessness of such an incomprehensible and heinous act The university will immediately set up counseling centers. So far centers have been identified in Ambler Johnston and the Cook Counseling Center to work with our campus community and families. > > Here are some of the facts we know: > > At about 7:15 a.m. this morning a 911 call came to the University Police Department concerning an event in West Ambler Johnston Hall. There were multiple shooting victims. While in the process of investigating, about two hours later the university received reports of a shooting in Norris Hall. The police immediately responded. Victims have been transported to various hospitals in the immediate area in the region to receive emergency treatment. > > We will proceed to contact the families of victims as identities are available. > > All classes are cancelled and the university is closed for the remainder of today. The university will open Tuesday at 8 a.m. but classes are cancelled. The police are currently staging the release of people from campus buildings. > > Families wishing to reunite with the students are suggested to meet at the Inn at Virginia Tech. We are making plans for a convocation tomorrow (Tuesday) at noon at Cassell Coliseum for the university community to come together to begin to deal with the tragedy. > > * * * > > Counseling is available in the Bowman Room in the Merriman Center (part of the athletic complex) for employees who seek assistance following today’s events. > > Faculty and staff on the Burruss side of the Drillfield are being released and asked to go home effective immediately. Faculty and staff on the War Memorial side are asked to leave at 12:30 p.m. > > * * * > > Virginia Tech has closed today Monday, April 16, 2007. On Tuesday, April 17, classes will be canceled. The university will remain open for administrative operations. > > There will be an additional university statement presented today at noon. > > All students, faculty, and staff are required to stay where they are until police execute a planned evacuation. A phased closing will be in effect today; further information will be forthcoming as soon as police secure the campus. > > Tomorrow, there will be a university convocation/ceremony at noon at Cassell Coliseum. The Inn at Virginia Tech has been designated as the site for parents to gather and obtain information. > > * * * > > In addition to an earlier shooting today in West Ambler Johnston, there has been a multiple shooting with multiple victims in Norris Hall. > > Police and EMS are on the scene. > > Police have one shooter in custody and as part of routine police procedure, they continue to search for a second shooter. > > All people in university buildings are required to stay inside until further notice. > > All entrances to campus are closed. ---
**Author:** ![you\_with\_the\_face](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/ecccb3/32.png) [@you\_with\_the\_face](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/you_with_the_face)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2007, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shooting-at-virginia-tech/400338/24 "2007-04-16T17:26:00Z")
So horrible. I can’t believe this keeps happening!! ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2007, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shooting-at-virginia-tech/400338/25 "2007-04-16T17:28:20Z")
If these are unconnected I will be very surprised. They have to be tied to the bomb threats somehow. My deepest condolences to the families of the victims and all who went through this tragedy. ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2007, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shooting-at-virginia-tech/400338/26 "2007-04-16T17:30:40Z")
[QUOTE=ivylass] Columbine was a high school, this is a college. I don’t think you can compare the two. Two separate shootings? Oh, Christ. It’s a horrible situation. My thoughts and prayers go out to our VA Dopers. [/QUOTE] It’s also worse than the clocktower nutcase from the 60s. I don’t think it makes a difference that these were college kids. Students are students. ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2007, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shooting-at-virginia-tech/400338/27 "2007-04-16T17:31:11Z")
[QUOTE=ivylass] Columbine was a high school, this is a college. I don’t think you can compare the two. [/QUOTE] The sniper at the University of Texas in the 1960s killed 16 people and the whackjob who shot up the McDonald’s in California killed 21 people. ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2007, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shooting-at-virginia-tech/400338/28 "2007-04-16T17:32:55Z")
[QUOTE=Lamar Mundane] I think those were the police responding. There were a ton of shots going off. [/QUOTE] Thanks for clearing that up. I’ve looked at it a dozen times, but I couldn’t make anything out for sure. ---
**Author:** ![Hippy\_Hollow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hippy_hollow/32/4841_2.png) [@Hippy\_Hollow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hippy_Hollow)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2007, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shooting-at-virginia-tech/400338/29 "2007-04-16T17:33:04Z")
Caveat: it’s breaking news, and we don’t know everything just yet. But I’m watching CNN and it appears there were two shooters. One shot students in a classroom. One was in a residence hall. There are no word for how horrible this is. 22 dead, 27 injured. This is the second shooting on the campus this academic year. ☹ There was also a bomb threat last week, in fact several. My heart goes out to the victims and their families, and the folks in the community. The resident advisors apparently were going to rooms telling kids to stay inside as the shooter was firing. Amazing. Having worked in residence life, I am so saddened by this. Kids just going about their day-to-day business. It’s so tragic. ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2007, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shooting-at-virginia-tech/400338/30 "2007-04-16T17:33:41Z")
So they have one shooter in custody, and are searching for the other? Is the shooter they have from the first or last shooting? ---
**Author:** ![TwoTrouts](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a9adbd/32.png) [@TwoTrouts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TwoTrouts)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2007, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shooting-at-virginia-tech/400338/31 "2007-04-16T17:36:28Z")
It is my understanding that there appears to be only one shooter, who is now dead. He started in one residence hall and fled then, two hours later, reappeared across campus. ---
**Author:** ![Hippy\_Hollow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hippy_hollow/32/4841_2.png) [@Hippy\_Hollow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hippy_Hollow)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2007, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shooting-at-virginia-tech/400338/32 "2007-04-16T17:36:32Z")
[QUOTE=ivylass] So they have one shooter in custody, and are searching for the other? Is the shooter they have from the first or last shooting? [/QUOTE] CNN is now reporting there was one shooter. But apparently the shootings took place across campus from each other, and they took place a little time apart. The bomb threat last week was called in to the same engineering building that the shooting took place this morning. ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2007, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shooting-at-virginia-tech/400338/33 "2007-04-16T17:36:34Z")
[QUOTE=ivylass] So they have one shooter in custody, and are searching for the other? Is the shooter they have from the first or last shooting? [/QUOTE] Reports are that the shooter is dead, however, there are reports that there were _two_ shooters, so we don’t really know, I’d say. It’s too early for us to get a handle on the details. ---
**Author:** ![catsix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e19b73/32.png) [@catsix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/catsix)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2007, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shooting-at-virginia-tech/400338/34 "2007-04-16T17:36:51Z")
Another gun-free school zone in which the victims had no chance at all of defending themselves. Awful. Just Awful. ---
**Author:** ![Lamar\_Mundane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lamar\_Mundane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamar_Mundane)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2007, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shooting-at-virginia-tech/400338/35 "2007-04-16T17:39:14Z")
[QUOTE=Hippy Hollow] Caveat: it’s breaking news, and we don’t know everything just yet. But I’m watching CNN and it appears there were two shooters. One shot students in a classroom. One was in a residence hall. There are no word for how horrible this is. [/QUOTE] I don’t think this is correct. There were two separate shootings, but all indications are that it was one shooter. MSNBC says it was a college aged male armed with one 9mm pistol and another handgun. ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Cymbeline](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_cymbeline/32/9244_2.png) [@Green\_Cymbeline](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Cymbeline)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2007, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shooting-at-virginia-tech/400338/36 "2007-04-16T17:39:23Z")
I have two cousins there, and they are both OK. But for about an hour, we didn’t have any word and it was a bit scary. ---
**Author:** ![Hippy\_Hollow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hippy_hollow/32/4841_2.png) [@Hippy\_Hollow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hippy_Hollow)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2007, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shooting-at-virginia-tech/400338/37 "2007-04-16T17:40:08Z")
I actually have several friends and acquaintances at Va Tech. The one I’m closest to took a job in DC last year. This is a horrible, horrible event. I went to the University of Texas, and people still talk about Charles Whitman shooting people from the tower in 1967. Blacksburg is a small place… what a dark day this is. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2007, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shooting-at-virginia-tech/400338/38 "2007-04-16T17:40:22Z")
[QUOTE=catsix] Another gun-free school zone in which the victims had no chance at all of defending themselves. Awful. Just Awful. [/QUOTE] :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2007, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shooting-at-virginia-tech/400338/39 "2007-04-16T17:40:38Z")
[QUOTE=catsix] Another gun-free school zone in which the victims had no chance at all of defending themselves. [/QUOTE] Are you actually trying to make this a gun-control issue? ---
**Author:** ![enigm4tic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7ba0ec/32.png) [@enigm4tic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enigm4tic)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2007, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shooting-at-virginia-tech/400338/40 "2007-04-16T17:41:42Z")
police are reporting that the gunman was killed as well. Fucker deserved it, better not have shot any of my friends. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shooting-at-virginia-tech/400338.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shooting-at-virginia-tech/400338.md?page=3)