Horrifying Shooting at VTech- UPDATED
My oldest son knows people at Virginia Tech - including an RA at the dorm where at least some of the shootings occurred. He lived in Blacksburg with friends last year, though he attended classes elsewhere in the area. He joined their fraternity and goes down there to visit as often as he can, maintaining many ties to students at the school. (They made an exception to the rules to let him into the frat even though he didn't go to the school - long story). Anyway, I thank God he's living at home this year and is thus, far away from this unbelievable nightmare.
This hits much too close to home - so many kids from our area go to school there:
The Virginia Tech Police Chief said at least 20 people were killed in twin shootings on the Blacksburg campus Monday morning.
"Some victims were shot in a classroom," Chief Wendell Flinchum said, adding that the gunman was dead.
President Charles Steger called the shootings "a tragedy of monumental proportions."
A hospital spokeswoman told The Associated Press that 17 Virginia Tech students were being treated for gunshot wounds and other injuries. Sharon Honaker at the Carilion New River Valley Medical Center told CNN that four patients had been transported there, one in critical condition.
One person was killed and others were wounded at multiple locations inside a dormitory about 7:15 a.m., Flinchum said. Two hours later, another shooting at Norris Hall, an engineering building, resulted in multiple casualties, the university reported.
...Amie Steele, editor-in-chief of the campus newspaper, said one of her reporters at the dormitory reported "mass chaos."
...Kristyn Heiser said she was in class about 9:30 a.m. when she and her classmates saw about six gun-wielding police officers run by a window.
"We were like, 'What's going on?' Because this definitely is a quaint town where stuff doesn't really happen. It's pretty boring here," said Heiser during a phone interview as she sat on her classroom floor.
According to Allahpundit, this is the deadliest campus shooting in US history.
Update: The death toll is up to 29
Update:
At 2:54 PM EST, Yahoo reports:
BLACKSBURG, Va. (AP) Government officials have told The Associated Press the death toll from the Virginia Tech campus shootings has risen to 31.
How bloody godawful. Jesus, the parents of those kids. I can't even begin to imagine.
Update: Finally got back in touch with my son who reports that his friends are all ok, but that some of his friends have friends who were hit.
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