While Cho was at Virginia Tech, warnings of his madness ran rampant throughout the campus.
(BLACKSBURG, Va.) - On Wednesday, NBC News headquarters in New York received correspondence believed to be from Cho Seung-Hui, the gunman responsible for the fatal shootings at Norris Hall. The correspondence includes multiple photographs, video, and writings.
Upon receipt of this correspondence, NBC News immediately notified authorities. NBC News security is to be commended for alerting authorities on this correspondence and handling it in a manner to preserve its integrity.
The originals have been turned over to the FBI and the Virginia State Police have been working with the FBI, ATF and Virginia Tech Police Department on this new evidence.
This may be a new critical component of this investigation, and as a result it is being analyzed.
The information about NBC receiving a package from Cho comes amid the news that the shooter was declared to be mentally ill and a danger to others by a Virginia judge in late 2005.
Explaining the difficulty of this type of situation, one special judge in Virginia says it is difficult to take a person into custody even when they are declared an imminent danger.
Cho was contacted two times during his time at Virginia Tech by police over stalking women. Two of his roommates that appeared on television say they scarcely knew him, saying he was quiet, odd, and scary to some women on the campus.
They also said he had an imaginary girlfriend named "Jelly" who called him "Spanky." Cho described his imaginary girlfriend as having the appearance of a supermodel.
The Virginia judge says his hands are tied in a case like this, "After a full hearing and if the person has denied to be a voluntary patient, if there is clear and overwhelming evidence, I am still obligated to look at less restrictive means over incarceration if they are available and appropriate."
The documents from 2005 declare that he was mentally ill and an imminent danger to others. It also said he was "in need of hospitalization, so seriously mental ill, that he has to be incapable of caring for himself."
At least one professor has spoken out now to say that it was extremely clear that Cho was dangerous, and that she took steps to have him removed from her classroom.
Virginia Governor Timothy M. Kaine has declared Friday, April 20th, 2007 a statewide day of mourning for the victims of Monday’s tragedy at Virginia Tech.
On Friday, Governor Kaine will participate in an interfaith prayer service in Monroe Park on the campus of Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond. He has encouraged other communities in Virginia and across the nation to hold their own simultaneous ceremonies and participate in prayer services, beginning with the ringing of bells at noon, eastern daylight savings time.
“As our Commonwealth begins the long and difficult healing process, I am filled with images of a Virginia Tech community that is resilient and unified,” said Governor Kaine. “I ask that everyone in Virginia pause at noon on Friday to offer prayers of support for the victims, their families, and for all those affected by this tragedy.”
The Richmond prayer service will take place at Monroe Park, Belvidere and Main Streets, and will begin at noon eastern daylight savings time.
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
Matthew Gregory Gwaltney
Hometown: Chesterfield, Virginia
Master’s student, Environmental Engineering
Graduate student since fall 2005
Emily Jane Hilscher
Hometown: Woodville, Virginia
Freshman, Animal and Poultry Sciences
Student since fall 2006
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
Lauren Ashley McCain
Hometown: Hampton, Virginia
Freshman, International Studies
Student since fall 2006
Minal Hiralal Panchal
Hometown: Mumbai, India
Master’s student, Architecture
Student since fall 2006
Waleed Mohamed Shaalan
Hometown: Blacksburg, Virginia (originally from Egypt)
Ph.D. student, Civil Engineering
Student since fall 2006
Faculty
Liviu Librescu
Professor, Engineering Science and Mechanics
Residence in Blacksburg
Joined Virginia Tech on September 1st, 1985
To honor and remember the victims of Monday's tragedy, the university has created the April 16th Memorial Website, rosa.hosting.vt.edu/index.php/memorial, so individuals may share condolences, thoughts, and prayers.
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
Video
Nation Continues to Mourn for Virginia Tech Victims (VIDEO)Salem-News.com