Showing posts with label 32 dead. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 32 dead. Show all posts

Monday, April 16, 2007

Official Death Toll in Virginia Tech Massacre Is Now 32 Dead

Update: 2:25 p.m.
Eye witnesses are telling news organizations that a professor who was shot in the face died at the scene in Norris Hall. Others report that the shooter had an automatic long gun, a shotgun and two 9mm handguns -- one of which he used on himself during a gunfight with police.
Witnesses say they heard between 40 and 50 shots as they scurried from the engineering building. The shooter was wearing a vest covered in clips was just unloading on their door, going from classroom to classroom … they said it never seemed like it was going to stop and there was just blood all over.
Other people (including reporters) are already speculating on a connection between last week's bomb threats and this morning's massacre. The first was directed at Torgersen Hall, a classroom and laboratory building, while the second was directed at multiple engineering buildings.

Update: 2:00 p.m.
The death toll now OFFICIALLY stands at 32 people dead as a result of what is thought to be a lone gunman going on a rampage at Virginia Tech. Add the number of dead to the reports of 29 who were wounded, and the total of people injured or killed is more than 60.
Robert Bowman, Managing Editor of The Collegiate Times (CT), says that the prevalent rumor on campus is that the (reported) Asian gunman killed himself when confronted by law enforcement officers at Norris Hall. BTW, the Asian man being shown on news outlets (face down and handcuffed), is NOT the gunman. He is a reporter for CT.
Another rumor going around campus is that the shooter was looking for his girlfriend -- quite possibly at her dorm (West AJ) and later at class in Norris Hall.

Update: 12:55 p.m.
The twenty-two dead are as follows:

  • One dead from shooting on 4th floor of West AJ dorm. Another person was shot in the dorm, but was not killed.
  • Twenty dead from classroom numbers 205 & 206 at Norris Hall.
  • The gunman is reportedly dead, as well.

Virginia Tech Scene of Deadliest University Shooting in US History

Update: 11:45 a.m.
A student who was making his way to classes on the Virginia Tech campus witnessed police grab a male who appeared to have been shot in the abdomen, place him in a police car and whisk him away from the scene. It was NOT clear to the student whether the person taken away was a victim or the shooter.
Reportedly, FBI agents are now on the scene as well.

Update: 11:21am - VT website

In addition to an earlier shooting today, in West Ambler Johnston, there has been a multiple shootings with multiple victims in Norris Hall. Police and EMS are on the scene. Police have one shooter in custody (according to the AP & The Collegiate Times) and as part of routine police procedure, they continue to search for a second shooter.
Sources on campus are reporting that there were two shooting incidents on campus — one that occurred between 7:15 a.m. and 7:30 a.m. at West Ambler Johnston Dorm (aka West AJ; near West End Market and Dietrick Dining Center), and another at 10 a.m. (believed to have taken place at Norris Hall). Officials told the AP there are seven to eight additional casualties. According to the VT website, "There will be an additional university statement presented today at noon."
There are VERY few OFFICIAL details at this time. We will know more when university authorities release their statement around noon today.

Update: 11:06 a.m.
The Associated Press is reporting there at least one person dead as a result of multiple shootings on the Virginia Tech campus this morning. Wounded have been removed from buildings. Tech student Steve Hanson was working in a lab in Norris Hall at 10:15 a.m. when he hears what he thought was loud banging from construction. Hanson was soon scrambling out of the building and he said he saw one person who was shot in the arm. At Pritchard Hall, a dormitory near one of the shooting sites, students were being pulled into the buildings and told to stay away from windows and off the phone.

Update: 10:36 a.m.
One death and one injury have been confirmed. Due to serious wind, helicopters cannot be used to transfer the injured. According to the police scanner, ambulances are being used to transport the victims to Montgomery Regional Hospital.

Updated: 10:17 a.m.
Multiple shootings have occurred at Virginia Tech this morning involving multiple victims. The second shooting happened in Norris Hall, the engineering building near Burruss Hall. Police are on the scene and rescue workers have set up a temporary treatment facility. The campus is on lock down. All classes and activities have been cancelled for the day.
Montgomery County public schools are all on lock down. In Blacksburg, no one is being allowed in any school building without approval by the school administrators, said Superintendent Tiffany Anderson.
The university has posted a notice of the incident on its Web site and is urging the university community to be cautious and contact Virginia Tech police at 231-6411 if they notice anything suspicious.

Last August, the VT campus was closed when an escaped jail inmate killed a hospital guard and a sheriff's deputy involved in a massive manhunt. The accused gunman, William Morva, faces capital murder charges.
The Roanoke Times (and the Previews, Newz and Reviews blog) will update
with new information as it become available.