Tragedy Strikes U.S. College Campus

international | crime and justice | news report Monday April 16, 2007 20:11 by Zachary Litwiller

Virginia Tech Shooting Leaves at Least 31 dead, 29 injured

This morning in Blacksburg, Va. tragedy struck Virginia Tech College Campus when shooter entered the campus and shot first in a dormitory and then in a classroom building. This is the worst campus shooting to have ever occurred in U.S. history.

Virginia Tech University, located in Blacksburg, Va. is now tragically home to the worst campus shooting in U.S. history, not even paralleled by the University of Texas shooting in 1966 by Charles Joseph Whitman and the 1999 Columbine shootings by Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold. The shootings, leaving at least 31 dead and 29 injured, have shocked the nation.

"Today the university was struck with a tragedy that we consider of monumental proportions," said university President Charles Steger. "The university is shocked and indeed horrified." (CNN.com) This shooting has even evoked a response from President Bush, who expressed horror and deep concern for the victims and their families.

There is still much confusion and answers are slow in coming, but school, government, and law officials are currently searching the campus for any other possible shooters or injured individuals and doing all they can to keep the information coming. President Bush is expected to speak at 16:30 (EST) this afternoon concerning what can only be described as a horrifying tragedy.

There have been scares this past week, though, as bomb threats were called in last week. Also, in August, the first day of class was canceled as well due to an escaped convict who was seen roaming the area near campus.

The faculty and staff have been sent home and the students on campus are in lock-down, told to stay where they are behind locked doors and away from windows.

A convocation has been scheduled for tomorrow at 1400 (EST) and counselors have been called in to help those traumatized by the events of today.