Why did the students at VA Tech, just wait to be shot?

Question

I’m not passing judgment. God know what I would do in a similar situation, but I found something very disturbing in the interviews, that I heard with survivors. It seems that many of then expected to die and just lay there and waited their turn to be shot. Particularly after our national experience with on 9-11 I would have thought some few might have tried to fight back by rushing the nut case or throwing books at him. Perhaps the zero tolerance for fighting in school is too deeply ingrained in us.

There may have been cases of fighting back and blocking door. I just haven't heard them. I just don't have time to read all news papers. I did hear several interviews with survivors who said they just waited their turns got ready to die. If there were cases of people fighting back, I wonder why they aren't featured more on telivesion

Answer 1

Noneya, I believe that is what he (she) said to begin with. Read the comment again before responding. I wondered that very same thought the morning it happened. What were these people doing just waiting in the halls and rooms for him to come in for them. I mean seriously, it was one kid. One kid shot 30 people and only stopped then cause he killed himself. How many more could he have gotten. Even Billy the Kid or Jesse James could never do that.

Answer 2

hi. while I am from the area and personally do NOT think this is an appropriate time for this question right now , I will put fourth an answer because this is already up.

Not every student "waited to be shot". Some held the door closed when the shooter came back, flipped over desks, and jumped out of the windows. Liviu Librescu instructed his students to do so, rather than be shot...there are many many stories of rebellion.

yes, some did just wait, but you must remember that every human being is different, every first reation and thoughts that go on within the mind is different and unique. Some are not as strong as others (mentally or pshyically), and are not as willing to fight back or act upon the same instincts as others. ....Have you ever been in a similar situation?

Answer 3

What makes you think they did? The news stories I've read have reported that the doors to the classroom building where chained shut from the inside, so they couldn't get oud, and there were reports of students jumping out of windows to avoid the shoting. There were reports of people blocking entires to classrooms in various ways, and at least one person was shot while trying to protect the other people in the room from the gunman. Nothing I read has indicated that they just stood there and waited to be shot at. I'm sure some people did panic and freeze up, but many did try to run away.

Fighting back doesn't work so well if the other guy has a gun and you don't. Throwing a book at the gunman is a sure way to be shot, whereas if he's firing at random he may or may not hit you. It didn't sound like anyone could have gotten near him to try to fight back as they would have been shot before they got close enough to do anything. Running is the better option in that case, and that's what many people did.

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OK, since you can't be bothered to read whole news stories before commenting on what happened...

"The e-mails from grateful students arrived soon after Liviu Librescu was shot to death, telling how the Holocaust survivor barricaded the doorway of his Virginia Tech classroom and saved their lives at the cost of his own."
"[He] blocked the doorway with his body and asked the students to flee"
Source: http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/nationworld/bal-victims0417,0,5163692.story?coll=bal-home-headlines&?track=sto-relcon

"Some students leaped from windows after realizing the gunman had apparently chained shut two exit doors."
"After leaving the classroom, O'Dell said, the gunman tried to return, but O'Dell and other students had barricaded the door"
Source: http://www.boston.com/news/education/higher/articles/2007/04/17/the_worst_thing_ive_ever_seen/

"Some of those injured during the second shooting were hurt while escaping from Norris Hall by jumping from second-floor windows."
Source: http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/nationworld/bal-te.shooting17apr17,0,6972462.story?coll=bal-home-headlines&?track=sto-relcon

Answer 4

I think there's always a tendency to hope that maybe if you just don't make waves or call attention to yourself, the person will leave you alone. I think that's why a lot of schools (middle and high schools mostly) are starting to have "drills" where the students practice charging at / rushing toward an intruder as a group, so that it will become second nature to them if it really happens. It's sad to even have to consider the idea of "practicing" for such a scenario, but in our world today it's probably necessary.

Answer 5

Obviously you have never been in a situation such as that one. It's hard to react to something like that when you are just sitting in your chair listening to a lecture. 15 students sitting in the back of a class room have no chance against a focused and determined killer with two hand guns full ammunition. You probably would have been one of the first ones to be shot because your big head would have stuck out.

Answer 6

It was a surprise attack, with almost two hours between times.
He shot thru the walls, and nobody seemed to know where the shots were coming from.. Keep in mind the heroic professor who tried to shield them..That is the bravest type of fighting back. Hope it doesn't happen again.

Answer 7

we can ask why what they could have done but they didn't but it is pointless. I wish I had the strength to pretend to be dead after being shot so I could live like one of the victims. I would have screamed in pain there are heros and maybe they didn't jump him but they would have been killed in the process. You can't say what yo would or wouldn't do in that moment let it go.

Answer 8

I think it happened so fast the most didn't have a chance to do anything.
there definatly were some heros. One of the teachers was killed trying to keep the shooter out of the room.

Answer 9

Everybody reacts different in any situation, you would never know how would you re act in such a horrible situation. It is very easy to say what you would do, but when you find yourself in the same position...well ...just then you know how you react.

Answer 10

first of all they were all locked in the room what were they suppose to do with a guy with loaded weapons they had no choice bullet is fasterr then anything.