Virginia Tech is the commonly used name for the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, located in Blacksburg, Va., southwest of Roanoke. A student gunman killed 32 people, including himself on April 16th, 2007 now known as the Virginia Tech Massacre . This incident was the deadliest shooting rampage in American history and came nearly eight years to the day after 13 people died at Columbine High School in Colorado at the hands of two disaffected students who then killed themselves.
There are many factors that can be reviewed and finger pointed as signs to forewarn of this incident or areas where the social and community systems had broken down (how did Cho get a gun when he was shown to be psychologically unstable?) but ultimately there’s only so many safe guards society can put in place to protect it’s citizens. Cho Seung-hui illegally acquired two handguns that morning but there were already warning signs of his behavior in his volatile behavior, harassment IMs, and writings.
Timeline:
7:15 a.m. – 911 call reporting the first shooting in West Ambler Johnston dormitory
7:30 a.m. – Police interview witnesses and believe the double homicide is an isolated case
8:00 a.m. – Students at VT begin the majority of their classes as text messages and phone calls spread of the shootings
8:25 a.m. – VT school officials meet to assess the situation and decide how to notify the students
9:00 a.m. – Campus police Chief Wendell Flinchum briefs university officials on the investigation
9:10 a.m. – Cho sends “manifesto” package to NBC news desk (time recorded on package)
9:26 a.m. – Email news to student body about shooting on campus at West Ambler Johnston Residence Hall:
Subject: Shooting on campus.
“A shooting incident occurred at West Amber Johnston earlier this morning. Police are on the scene and are investigating.
The university community is urged to be cautious and are asked to contact Virginia Tech Police if you observe anything suspicious or with information on the case. Contact Virginia Tech Police at 231-6411
Stay attuned to the www.vt.edu. We will post as soon as we have more information.”
~9:30 a.m. – Approximate time of second shooting at Norris Hall.
9:45 a.m. – Campus police respond to 911 call for second shooting at Norris Hall.
9:50 a.m. – email sent to student body:
Subject: Please stay put
“A gunman is loose on campus. Stay in buildings until further notice. Stay away from all windows”
Additional emails were sent to the student body updating the end of the shootings and notice of class cancellations and at 12 p.m. at a news conference, Virginia Tech police Chief Wendell Flinchum says 22 people have been killed.
Some sources:
Timeline: How the Virginia Tech Shootings Unfolded
Virginia Tech Criticized for Actions in Shooting