AC Exclusive: A Student's First-Hand Account of the Deadliest School Attack in U.S. History
Many of the residents, including myself, woke up to the sounds of sirens and a police officer's voice over the loudspeaker stating, "This is an emergency. Please stay indoors and away from windows, and be sheltered immediately." Living on the other side of campus (in the upper quad section), the police began to respond around 9 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. It was notified that all classes are canceled, and those already in classes should take coverage and sheltered away from windows immediately. Everybody was perplexed at the situation and what was happening; many phone lines (including cell phone lines) were jammed or busy and Virginia Tech's website (www.vt.edu) and email was at snail's pace at best.
Around the time that I heard the sirens and the police started mobilizing, it is now known that the Norris Hall shootings happened, around two hours later. The shootings at Norris Hall, an Engineering building home to numerous engineering and business classes, resulted in 20 deaths so far. To my knowledge (from talking with friends), I believe the shootings were in rooms 205 and 207 in Norris Hall, but the shootings could have continued elsewhere in the building as well. Officials now say that the shooter had chained the doors shut in Norris Hall, allowing him to shoot people one after another.
Some students, scared by the gun shots, jumped out from the windows of Norris Hall on the second floor. Students released outdoors during this time were told to put their hands up and walk out, stating that they are Virginia Tech students, then ran all the way across the drill field where they were transported into a secure building. Still-confused students were frightened as they were held by gunpoint by the police and instructed to evacuate. Still, most students were told to stay indoors in their classrooms and away from windows.
Eventually, the shooter was found dead, most likely having taken his own life. The shooter is described as an Asian male, around 6 feet tall, and of college age (around 20). He did not have any ID on him when he was found. Once the suspected shooter was found, students were slowly evacuated, although police were still cautious for the potential of a second shooter. Although everything has settled down and the shootings have stopped, students are still advised to stay indoors as police are looking for more evidence and victims outdoors.
The aftermath of this attack resulted in the the largest school attack in the nation's history. So far, this attack resulted in 32 confirmed deaths (33 including the shooter), and 28 people being treated for injuries. Around 60 people have been injured or killed by this event. All classes are canceled until Wednesday, April 18, 2007, but the university will open on Tuesday for faculty and staff. The motives of this tragic event are still unknown and the list of the deceased and injured are still, for the most part, unknown as well as the identity of the shooter. However, I know that Ryan Clark, the Resident Advisor at West AJ, was one of the two killed victims of the first shooting. This day is truly a shock and tragedy in our nation's history, as the people of this nation mourn those that we have lost due to this tragic event.
Published by John Kim
I am currently a student at Virginia Tech studying Political Science. I have written some freelance pieces during my spare time. View profile
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36 Comments
Post a CommentThank you for everyone's comments; it is good to konw that there is much support out there. To answer some questions, I actually found out about AC right before the attack happened, and randomly recieved an email from AC asking all those that have witnessed/experienced the attack to write about it. I am actually staying in Blacksburg for the summer (taking summer courses) and although many of us have moved on, seeing the memorials and Norris Hall conjures up the horrors of 4/16. As for the families and friends that were most affected by this tragedy, I don't think anyone can even fathom the suffering that they are still enduring and my prayer and thoughts go out them. Once again, thank you everyone for your comments and God bless.
Absolutely insane situation for anyone to deal with.
I see that this is your only article, did you find out about AC after the tragedy or did you know about AC but didn't write anything yet? Virginia Tech is in my prayers and I love Timouthy Sexton's comment below I couldn't have said it better myself
This is a very sad and senseless tragedy that will be with us for a long time. I'm glad that you made it out okay.
I am so very sorry that this happened and that you had to be a part of it there are no words to express the horror and sadness that you and all of us feel. Just know that many many are praying for all of you. God bless
What does one say in the face of such horrendous choices made by this gunman? Sorry seems so inadequate. Prayer more appropriate as well as the hope that the media gives families space they need to grieve.
Thanks for sharing. Sending thoughts and prayers for you and the Virginia Tech family.
I am a mom of a son who will be going to college next fall, and I can't even begin to imagine the pain the parents, friends, faculty, and the loved ones of those who were killed or injured must be going through. I find it heartbreaking to watch the news, and my heart goes out to you all. Keep in mind that others who aren't directly affected really do care. People from all over the country and all over the world are praying for everyone involved. This has been on my mind since it happened, and I pray that all who were affected, directly or otherwise, can eventually begin to heal. Kim Ray
I have so far resisted the urge to write on this tragic occurrence. With each passing day, there seems to be more layers that need to be examined: from issues of gun control, to exceptionally awful media coverage, to the marginalization of the killer in attempt to society to escape any culpability. It will take a long time for you and everyone else there to come to grips with what happened, and I sincerely wish you all luck. I think it's going to be twice as hard, however, due to the media and political jockeying. I simply cannot urge you enough to convince your classmates and the school to clamp down on the celebrity "journalists" looking to exploit your pain for their own cynical benefit. Your article was particularly welcome as it is one of the few accounts not designed and presented expressly for the purpose of showing how sympathetic and caring a star reporter or anchor is. Thank you.
I am so sorry that you, and everyone at Virginia Tech., had to experience this. I am praying for you all.