Virginia Tech Shootout
A terrible piece of news was announced to us this morning while writing a test. An unidentified gunman opened fire on two separate occasions today, killing one person at Ambler Johnston and several more at Norris Hall. The current fatality count stands at 22 — now updated to 32 — this is absolutely, positively horrifying, especially for a rural campus like Virginia Tech.
Two bomb threats, last one two days ago
The campus has been plagued by law-and-order trouble most of last year; we had two bomb threats for buildings on campus, on April 2 and April 13 (just two days before today’s shootout!). On both occasions, the respective buildings were immediately evacuated and all events suspended until police could conduct a more thorough inspection of each building. Following the last threat on Friday, the three buildings were closed until Sunday night. The university sent a campus-wide email Sunday evening that those buildings would open at 7:00am Monday and all events scheduled for today would resume.
Second shooting led to more fatalities
So we went off at 9:00am, right after the first shooting. At that time, if we had known about the first incident that occurred at 7:15am, we sure as hell wouldn’t have ventured out. We only heard about it later, some time around 9:26am, via email from the University. While we were on the bus to campus, it was probably exactly that time that the killer moved from Ambler Johnston Hall to Norris Hall, where the second shoutout occurred. Most of the fatalities occurred at the second shooting. If that could have been prevented — oh well, hindsight is always 20/20.
First, curfew; then, evacuation
The first email from the University asked us to stay indoors, lock the doors, and away from windows. The second one told us that the campus was being evacuated, and we should leave the building as soon as possible. We left at around 11:30am from Whittemore hall, and a classmate offered to drop us back home. The status of the Blacksburg Transit bus service was not known.
Shock at home
The real shock came when we reached home, because accurate information about the happenings of the morning was not available until after President Steger’s statement released at noon. The sheer number of fatalities and injuries — 22 dead, 21 injuries — was mind-boggling. It is expected that the death toll may rise as more information is available.
Is anyone going to do something about this?
Or should we just expect the National Rifle Association to convene at Blacksburg later this month? If you don’t know what I’m talking about, please see Michael Moore’s documentary, Bowling for Columbine. I’ve written about this topic before: it’s high time someone does something about this.
22 32 innocent lives lost, not to mention all the victims over the years, is reason enough to do something about the root of the problems, the easy availability of guns.
Update:
This blog entry was posted before we learned that Minal Panchal was missing. After we heard, most of us have been on campus or at Montgomery Regional Hospital trying to locate her.
Glad youre alright ! Very shocking considering VT is (otherwise) very safe.
Comment by Nupur — April 16, 2007 @ 3:03 pm
I was horrified when I first heard about the whole thing. I almost went there. Although to argue for a second, I think the issue is more the sick person who would do such a thing rather than gun availably. Either way, I hope you and your friends are ok.
Comment by Morgan — April 16, 2007 @ 4:28 pm
They were just interrupting normal program on TV when i saw your GTalk status. Very shocking indeed..
Comment by Teodor Filimon — April 16, 2007 @ 5:26 pm
Hey! Glad to see you are fine! My heart felt concern for all students at VTech. Take care.
—Ritesh
Comment by Ritesh — April 16, 2007 @ 7:08 pm
Shocking to see places of learning turning to graveyards.
Good to see you are fine.
Comment by Prashanth — April 17, 2007 @ 1:54 am
The news in indeed shocking. I can understand what students at VT would be going through. I hope people get back to normal life asap.
Comment by Krishna teja Mandavilli — April 17, 2007 @ 8:55 am
My heart goes out to all the victims of Virginia Tech..That was so horrifying..
Comment by Kavita Tipnis — April 17, 2007 @ 8:59 am
All the signs of a disturbed individual were there… Ignored due to ‘individual rights’ of this person being respected.
Very heart wrenching.
There but for the grace of God…. Must be unbearably painful for those innocents affected…
Comment by Raj Rajyagor — April 17, 2007 @ 8:22 pm
Just because of constitutional right of one person,the right to live and enjoy life of so many innocent people was snatched away.Not only victims,but their near and dear ones.Their life will NEVER be the same again.
Comment by Anjali Tungare — April 18, 2007 @ 10:40 am
its time that us government should do something about gun laws…..its shocking that how easily the guy got inside with a gun……shocking
Comment by shobhit — April 18, 2007 @ 2:27 pm
Innocent people died…Thatz sad =(
Comment by Sheena — April 18, 2007 @ 4:58 pm
Indeed shocking. I hope all of you are doing better today.
Comment by Madhu — April 18, 2007 @ 10:49 pm
my thoughts and prayers are with you!
Comment by michaela — April 20, 2007 @ 5:17 pm
We over in New Zealand are all shocked I could not imagine something like this happening to me though I am sure you thought that too! Glad you are o.k!
Comment by Bubbly Blonde — April 21, 2007 @ 11:06 pm
hey well even though I didnt go to your school I just wantedto say to live life like if it was your last day
Comment by Denise — April 23, 2007 @ 7:22 pm
Shocking, indeed!.. The Government should seriously wake up and restrict guns and stuff!.. Glad to see you are alright…
Let the souls of the victims rest in peace..
Comment by Chaitrali — April 24, 2007 @ 5:05 am
I did see Bowling for Columbine. My frustration grew more. What else can I say
Comment by Anurag Mishra — April 25, 2007 @ 4:28 pm
I posted my views on gun control here.
Comment by Anurag Mishra — May 1, 2007 @ 10:43 am
just want to tell all of those students out there to take heart and also always rely on God’s Supreme power for protection of their lives
Comment by david — May 7, 2007 @ 4:51 pm
I am so sad for the people who lost their lives in the shootout. Though I am happy some people survived. This sould be a wake up call for the government!
luv
sox
Comment by Sox — May 7, 2007 @ 6:31 pm
x x x R.I.P everyone that didn’t make it in VT x x x
I didn’t know anyone but still it’s so sad:( I couldn’t stop crying:(
This is the first message I have written on a site about vt
You will be missed always and forever i’m sure.
None of you deserved it, but you all are now in a better place were you can have peace.
My Heart, My Love, My Prayers go out to every single person that was involved and effect by this tragedyxxx
I hope all the people that survived and the families and friends will be able to celebrate the lives that were lost not mourn the deaths and i hope u will all be happy again x x x
Comment by Lara — May 25, 2007 @ 6:13 am
This is really sad because of one persons mental unstability and laxative gun laws, so many innocent people died
laws are to protect people and not become a reason for their unnatural death. Its High time concrete actions are not
planned but implemented to avoid such incidences.
Comment by pinky singh — May 28, 2007 @ 3:09 am
i fell for thwe whole school and want to give my sympathy i hope the lives of all the people that were lost in this incedent will live on through the people who survived.stay up
Comment by camisha — September 12, 2007 @ 11:33 am