Did you hear the horrible news about the 21 Students at Virginia Tech that were shot to death?

Question

Gunman kills 21 on Virginia Tech campus

A gunman opened fire in a dorm and classroom at Virginia Tech on Monday, killing 21 people in the deadliest campus shooting in U.S. history. The gunman was killed, but it was unclear if he was shot by police or took his own life.

"Today the university was struck with a tragedy that we consider of monumental proportions," said Virginia Tech president Charles Steger. "The university is shocked and indeed horrified."

The university reported shootings at opposite sides of the 2,600-acre campus, beginning at about 7:15 a.m. at West Ambler Johnston, a co-ed residence hall that houses 895 people, and continuing about two hours later at Norris Hall, an engineering building.

Some but not all the dead were students. One student was killed in a dorm and the others were killed in the classroom, Virginia Tech Police Chief W.R. Flinchum.

The name of the gunman was not released. It was not known if he was a student.

Up until Monday, the deadliest campus shooting in U.S. history took place in 1966 at the University of Texas, where Charles Whitman climbed to the 28th-floor observation deck of a clock tower and opened fire. He killed 16 people before he was gunned down by police. In the Columbine High bloodbath near Littleton, Colo., in 1999, two teenagers killed 12 fellow students and a teacher before taking their own lives.

After Monday's shootings, all entrances to the campus were closed. The campus was to reopen Tuesday but classes were canceled.

The university set up a meeting place for families to reunite with their children at the Inn at Virginia Tech. It also made counselors available and planned a convocation for Tuesday at the Cassell Coliseum basketball arena.

After the shootings, students were told to stay inside away from the windows.

"There's just a lot of commotion. It's hard to tell exactly what's going on," said Jason Anthony Smith, 19, who lives in the dorm where shooting took place.

Aimee Kanode, a freshman from Martinsville, said the shooting happened on the 4th floor of West Ambler Johnston dormitory, one floor above her room. Kanode's resident assistant knocked on her door about 8 a.m. to notify students to stay put.

"They had us under lockdown," Kanode said. "They temporarily lifted the lockdown, the gunman shot again."

"We're all locked in our dorms surfing the Internet trying to figure out what's going on," Kanode said.

Madison Van Duyne, a student who was interviewed by telephone on CNN, said, "We are all in lockdown. Most of the students are sitting on the floors away from the windows just trying to be as safe as possible."

Police said there had been bomb threats on campus over the past two weeks by authorities but said they have not determined a link to the shootings.

It was second time in less than a year that the campus was closed because of a shooting.

In August 2006, the opening day of classes was canceled and the campus closed when an escaped jail inmate allegedly killed a hospital guard off campus and fled to the Tech area. A sheriff's deputy involved in the manhunt was killed on a trail just off campus.

The accused gunman, William Morva, faces capital murder charges.

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Answer 1

I think it was a tragedy first and foremost and my thoughts and prayers go out to the victims and their families.

They were just sitting ducks with no way to defend themselves much like the victims of Colin Ferguson. Concealed-carry advocates warned us all long ago to expect tragedies like this as long as we have gun control.

When only criminals have guns the rest of us can only ponder tactics like "notifications."

In a state where concealed-carry is allowed or promoted, the loss of life could have been much less. He may have shot one or two, but a concealed-carrier would have dispatched him right quick.

Sadly there is no way to prevent a killer with a gun. In tribal Africa where there are no manufactured guns, tribesman make them from pipes and rubber-bands so clearly gun control is not the answer. You can make a gun out of wood in an hour! He could have stabbed just as many with a knife.

Since you will never stop the OFFENSE, we must allow ourselves a DEFENSE. We are not all of one culture anymore, so violence will only increase.

The only way to prevent these killing rampages is concealed-carry. Would you rather protect yourself or wait for the folly "notification?”

Answer 2

Police said there had been bomb threats on campus over the past two weeks by authorities but said they have not determined a link to the shootings.
It was second time in less than a year that the campus was closed because of a shooting.

In August 2006, the opening day of classes was canceled and the campus closed when an escaped jail inmate allegedly killed a hospital guard off campus and fled to the Tech area. A sheriff's deputy involved in the manhunt was killed on a trail just off campus.

The accused gunman, William Morva, faces capital murder charges..........................MEANING THIS SCHOOL IS NO GOOD.

Answer 3

It has actually risen to 32 people at the moment. Its really bad because they actually had a shooting back in August then they had a Bomb threat a while back and then this so the school is really suffering at the moment, hope they get back on track

By the way i live in Virginia, but about 2 hrs from Blacksburg where VA Tech is at.

Answer 4

My thoughts go to the families of the dead. The story just ticks me off though. I'm tired of crazy people shooting innocent people and wrecking havoc on the world around them. News is reporting 21 dead. 20 students and the gunmen are dead. The university president announced it a few minutes ago.

Answer 5

I'm guessing it has something to do with terrorism. Get rid of the lalala controlling and dress from head to toe people chanting Ula ,tighten security everywhere (schools, transportation,etc.) Get some REAL army and police man. WAKE UP AMERICA to what is happening around you this is Hitler and Germany all over again. Possibly think about a no gun law.

Answer 6

I actually hadn't heard until now...that is so horrible. I don't understand what motivates an individual to kill a bunch of innocent people like that. It is especially disturbing to me since I am moving to Virginia soon:(

Answer 7

Yes its a terrible event but i have to say alot of your information is false,for one right now they say 33 killed including the gunman also THEY HAVE NO CLUE WHO IT IS!!!! William Morva????All they no is that he's asian and that is about it wherever you got this info its WRONG!

Answer 8

sad very sad. I think some gun control is necessary. US laws allowed him to purchase those guns legally. I feel for those kids. I wish they could just go home and recoop for a while instead of going to class tomorrow.

Answer 9

no duh
my prayers are with virginia tech and their parents.
there is an update
now its 33 total death toll
including the man sucidal himself
did u know the guy who killed himself and other innocent lives also killed i think 15 other ppl including his wife and mother last night?

Answer 10

My Sis is a RA in that dorm on the fourth floor so ya you all try to pretend you know whats going on!