Death Toll Rises to 32 in Virginia Tech Campus Shootings

There are unconfirmed reports that the suspect was a young Asian-American male, who was looking for his girlfriend.

There are media reports that police have recovered two 9-MM handguns, a 22-caliber handgun, and multiple magazines used by the suspect during the rampage.

NBC is reporting that the suspect may have chained the doors to the buildings closed during the shootings.

Families wishing to reunite with students are suggested to meet at the Inn at Virginia Tech.

The university is planning a convocation for 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.

All faculty and staff have been released and asked to go home effective immediately.

Crime scenes are being investigated by the FBI, University Police, and State Police.

At about 7:15 AM 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.

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.

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Anonymous April 18, 2007 10:28 pm (Pacific time)

It's A Reason for everything so the boy must have very fustrated to do something like that god give life and take life remember that

Murphy April 16, 2007 5:41 pm (Pacific time)

Marnell you don't own a firearm do you? Please tell me you don't.

To: Marcus April 16, 2007 5:41 pm (Pacific time)

I agree with your basic concept....World War III is in its infancy and there is no going back. The 21st century will probably see the death of a billion people due to war, famine, population outgrowing the food supply, etc. Also the money changers benefit most during times of chaos and would sell you or I for a penny to help add to their bottom line. If over 200 million died in the 20th century, a billion in the 21st is a piece of cake and probably a goal of the Council on Foreign Relations and The Trilateral Commission.

This Could Have Been Me April 16, 2007 5:21 pm (Pacific time)

Thinker, When you are on a battleground, you don't wait to be shot at first....remember pre-emption? War is not the ultimate argument; just one of them. If there were a day of amnesty for murder, probably half the country would disappear. Sometimes the only thing that stops a person from killing is law not the heart, sometimes it is the heart and not the law. In fantasy, if I had gotten a Presidential pardon with no questions asked, I probably would have done in a few people on my emotional hit list.

This Could Have Been Me April 16, 2007 4:53 pm (Pacific time)

Thinker, I liked what you wrote and get a kick out of your parents' comment. I do not like the concept of mandatory military service...it breeds nationalism to an extreme....like in Israel or Turkey and many other countries. Many kids if not most do not have good parents as yours may have been. As a matter of fact, some parents, especially fathers would encourage their sons to be a man, get even and we'll figure a good cover later. You may have come from a relatively stable functional family, most people do not. Also, you have probably noticed that temper blocks logic. Emotions often overide thinking of consequences when a head gets really hot.

Thinker April 16, 2007 4:43 pm (Pacific time)

And war is not always "mass murder" I NEVER shot at anyone that didn't shoot at me first

Thinker April 16, 2007 4:41 pm (Pacific time)

I have finally had time to read more of the comments. There are a number of differences between what happened today and war. What happened today was horrible and should have been stopped long before it came to this point. I have a history in psychiatrics - Both sides of the desk. I also have experience in war. War is the ultimate argument. The violent resolution to a disagreement. Does it solve anything? Sometimes. But the one thing they have in common is this: Violence is a way to get what you want. Be it oil, land, or revenge. Some people just aren't smart enough to get it any other way.

Thinker April 16, 2007 4:01 pm (Pacific time)

If we are the most intelligent form of life on this planet I feel we have a far way to go to prove it. In high school, I like you had thoughts of "evening the score" I did have access to a gun, but because my parents taught me right from wrong and reality from "hollywood" and they held me accountable for my actions my ENTIRE life I learned right from wrong. In this day and age I find a lot of parents afraid of punishing or correcting their children because of government interference with child abuse accusations and such. My parents told me, when I was little, that if I wanted to call the police and have them arrested for "child abuse" they would dial the phone for me, but that by the time the cops showed up they would truly be guilty of it. Kids no longer fear their parents as I and many of my friends did growing up. That fear taught me that there were consequences for ALL actions. That no one but ME is responsible for my actions, that when I was wrong there was no shame in admitting it, but when I was right to stand up for it. I am a firm believer that if every American adult were armed crime would all but disappear. That is my opinion and I stand behind it. But then again I believe military service should be required for all before college. (Yes I realize that violates the very fundamentals of freedom before anyone says anything). Think about it, someone thinking of committing a crime would think twice about it knowing that the victim is armed. Think about it.

This Could Have Been Me. April 16, 2007 2:34 pm (Pacific time)

Thinker, All teenagers armed, untrained and impulsive....I do not think so. Most people with severe mental illness withdraw from society not confront it. He may have been ill, on L.S.D., or just never learned impulse control. We all have homicidal potential. It is part of being a modern ape. We are the most intelligent form of animal (not that it has done us much good). 35 years ago I had a fantasy of going into my high school to even the score. I was very young and if there was a gun in my house, I may have used it. I really believed that justice needed to be served. Shooting up a few students and staff would have been extreme....broken legs...even at this age...if I had the connections back then, I would have hired Vito. The only thing that stopped me was my grandfather drilling into my head that at a certain age you will be held accountable for what you do. In those days a 14 year old could kill and would probably just get put in a psyche ward for a couple of years or some bad boy shool till you were 18.

marcus April 16, 2007 1:48 pm (Pacific time)

Dont even try to reconcile nor reason this tragedy. The whole world is headed for disaster. Sometime death is preferable to living under a crumbling system of dishonest government. Sorry that the shooter had the wrong people in his sights. Put this egnigma out of your mind and concentrate on doing everything in your power to enhance honor and eradicate evil.

A Mother in Washington State April 16, 2007 1:41 pm (Pacific time)

It would be interesting to know how this young? man obtained his guns. Did he have to register? Did someone check his background before he could obtain weapons? I am (was)a strong supporter of the Brady Bill.

John April 16, 2007 1:36 pm (Pacific time)

The Iraqis have use right where they want us especially the imams and mullahs. They have been invaded by the Satan USA and lost the war due to their lack reverance to Mouhammad and Allah. Consequently,the clerics are demanding revenge,cut off our heads;to aevenge their defeat and bring honor allah. This goes back to the Battle of Badr. We are living the Islamic dream to be fulfilled by Islamic martyrs; our total destruction because we are nonbelivers worth of beheading and eternal suffering in Hell.

Aaron April 16, 2007 1:33 pm (Pacific time)

A lot of individuals, as well as, the masses are feeling a wide array of emotions right now. Anger, grief, shock, and a host of other feelings that is to long to list. Every person expresses pain in a different fasion. This is not a time to get angry at one another. This is a time of self reflection as to why our society is how it is and what WE HAVE DONE personally to prevent such an event and what WE HAVE DONE to make society a better place for all. This comes from a father of three who's heart is broken for the life's of those that were lost and their families. Please join me in prayer for those in the most pain right now.

Z April 16, 2007 1:28 pm (Pacific time)

As long as there is a religion, government, cause, mental derangement, or humans, this kind of thing will occur from time to time. Those who must bear the pain of such an tragedy follow in a long line of those who have gone before them and the line behind them will be just as long.

Thinker April 16, 2007 1:28 pm (Pacific time)

I haven't read all of the comments but I do have to say that I totally disagree what someone said about movie violence and pop culture influenced this. I am a HUGE fan of violent movies of all kinds, I am a combat vet having spent 360 days in Iraq, I have been in violent situations, and I would NEVER consider doing something like this, nor would anyone I know. This is nothing more than a psychologically unstable individual snapping and having access to weapons. I do have to agree with the statement above, however, that it wouldn't have happened if ALL of the students were armed

Whatever April 16, 2007 1:24 pm (Pacific time)

You can't blame society and culture because some whack job went crazy! The cause is INSANITY, not any social or cultural thing. DUH!

kathy April 16, 2007 1:21 pm (Pacific time)

To Patrick April 16, 2007 12:44 pm (Pacific time) ["Another result of illegal immigration."] The story said Asian AMERICAN, tardo.

rombie April 16, 2007 1:19 pm (Pacific time)

why are you talking about the war? this is something completly diffrent. a crazed unknown on campus murders 32 people and youbelieve that this is a way to spread your own political views about the war? you might not like the war in iraq, and but keep it out of this.

To Big Boy: April 16, 2007 1:19 pm (Pacific time)

War is mass murder for a financial benefit. This is mass murder for a undetermined reason as of yet. Everything has a cause and effect.

What Gives? April 16, 2007 1:15 pm (Pacific time)

I just realized that this is a war. How is it different than innocent people being killed by a roadside bomb? Iraqis could say, "The Americans bring this on themselves." That is what some of you are implying about them. So we do have a war here....the war on drugs is not what I mean. We are all people and senseless killing is the same be it here or Peking or London.

Unpleasant Stuff April 16, 2007 1:09 pm (Pacific time)

Some people have to see their own kind suffer to face the reality that murder is murder and people all over the world have the potential to see all humans as part of the same species.

OlderThanU April 16, 2007 1:05 pm (Pacific time)

This is a perfect example of why gun laws don't work. This guy went in there knowing no one could stop him. If everyone on campus had the right to bear arms the sick coward would not have had the guts to go in there and face the 26,000 students and do what he did today.

What Gives? April 16, 2007 1:01 pm (Pacific time)

It is good to fuel fire because it gets everyone to think and possibly learn, including me.

What Gives? April 16, 2007 12:59 pm (Pacific time)

This is a great opportunity to raise consciousness about all human suffering and to put it in perspective. This is tradgedy but so are all of the thousands that die every year from lack of being able to afford even a simple check up and this is something that can be easily resolved....someone going postal is very hard to prevent. The bottom line is that there is something wrong with the culture in this shoot-em-up, yeehaaa culture. Maybe the violence in movies and pop culture contributes, I am interested in what people think except those that think they can hurt me by saying things that most people would find offensive. I react to stupidity, not insults, and yes sometimes I make mistakes unlike all of the perfect people that criticize someone like me.

Big Boy April 16, 2007 12:56 pm (Pacific time)

You have to be out of your mind to mention the war at a time like this. You stupid little person. The war is the war. This is mass murder, not a freaking war.

unkown again April 16, 2007 12:50 pm (Pacific time)

What give? are you happy? Told you your comments will fuel the fire. Lets face it everyone is right! there is never a winner in a wars...I hate wars...urgh.

Matt Johnson April 16, 2007 12:44 pm (Pacific time)

Jack, respectfully, the Iraqi people have participated in the killing but as honest people we must admit that the U.S. has instigated the entire civil war process there. I know I am not going out on a limb saying that. However, I could not agree with you more about this not being the time or place, we are in the midst of a national tragedy.

Patrick April 16, 2007 12:44 pm (Pacific time)

Another result of illegal immigration.

Taylor Saporito April 16, 2007 12:41 pm (Pacific time)

How could you possibly have the nerve to express your anti war sentiments in the face of another tragedy? It's terrible that you could think to use other people's pain as a platform for your anti war rants.

Jalem April 16, 2007 12:39 pm (Pacific time)

"Now, as you are all so horrified, how do you think the people in Iraq feel after losing over 600,000 of their own people." Probably just like we do, Moron. The vast majority were killed by their own countrymen, just like at VTech. YOU are a good example of what's "inherently wrong with the culture today."

Jack April 16, 2007 12:36 pm (Pacific time)

What Gives, your comparison is disgusting. The Iraqis have taken those lives, not lost them. America is not responsible for their desire to kill each other. We are however responsible for allowing guns to be owned by the insane among ourselves.

Anonymous April 16, 2007 12:34 pm (Pacific time)

we are the cause of our own demise. what a sad day for america. God save us.

The Editor April 16, 2007 12:34 pm (Pacific time)

Andrew, thanks for your assistance.

Andrew April 16, 2007 12:33 pm (Pacific time)

William Morva was the escaped convict in last year's shooting, not in this one. The statement, above, that the shooter's name is being reported as William Morva is a bit confused.

unknown April 16, 2007 12:31 pm (Pacific time)

Apple and Oranges. These comments will fuel topic such like this. The war in Iraq will not make a kid kill 31 people. He just selfish..IF he is killing for a girlfriend. Blame the movies and the media.

Brian April 16, 2007 12:30 pm (Pacific time)

Ditto - What Gives. Well said.

What Gives? April 16, 2007 12:15 pm (Pacific time)

Only in the greatest country in the world! Sick! Let Freedom Ring! Bull! There is something inherently wrong with the culture today. I do not even want to speculate on the causes. Now, as you are all so horrified, how do you think the people in Iraq feel after losing over 600,000 of their own people. In many Americans minds because they are so brainwashed and racist, they do not have the gut reaction to that, but will have a super reaction to this. What gives?

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