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Coverage of yesterday's VT Shootings may be found here. The Virginia Tech Community, Blacksburg, and the country as a whole is still shaken from the events of yesterday and details are still flooding in. As news breaks it will be posted here.
Hospital Press Conference
A press conference at MRH reports that all patients still there from the VT shootings are now listed in "Stable" condition. This means that several who were previously listed in "Critical" have been upgraded over night. Similarly, all patients at the Lewis Gale Medical Center are also now listed in stable condition. Lewis Gale Medical Center expects to discharge at least one patient today.
Virginia Tech has confirmed that the shooter in the Norris Hall incident was a Virginia Tech student that lived on campus, though no further details have been provided. A VT Press Conference is scheduled for 9:00 am EST today. Local media are already speculating that the identity of the shooter will be disclosed at that press conference.
Convocation Update - 8:47 am
From WBBJ7 -- President Bush and first lady Laura Bush will attend today's convocation at Virginia Tech to remember those affected by the deadliest campus violence ever in this country.
The Convocation is at 2:00 pm at Cassell Coliseum and is open to the public.
A Commonwealth in Mourning
From the University of Virginia -- A candlelight vigil will be held at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, April 17, in McIntire Amphitheatre to honor the memories and lives of those who were killed and injured in the shootings at Virginia Tech on Monday. All members of the University of Virginia community are invited to attend the event.
UVA's Chapel Bells will toll for five minutes today in remembrance of the victims of yesterday's shooting
Candle Light Vigil On The Drill Field
There will be a vigil on the Virginia Tech Drill Field at 8:00 tonight. Q99 FM is providing candles outside of their radio studios on Electric Road in Roanoke VA at this time.
AP Casualty List
AP has posted a casualty list which is being updated continuously. It is available here. Another (seemingly more complete but less official looking) list is available here.
9:24 am VT News Conference
Virginia Tech Community
Virginia Tech will cancel all classes for the remainder of the week to allow students to seek assistance and be with their families.
Norris Hall will be closed for the remainder of the Spring Semester.
President and Mrs Bush and Governor and Mrs. Kaine will be in attendance at the Convocation.
Police Report
The deceased gunman was a 23 year old South Korean male named Cho Seung-Hui. Seung-Hui was an English Major undergrad in his senior year. He lived in Centerville and resided in Harper Residence Hall at Virginia Tech. He was armed with a 9mm and .22 cal handgun. Ballistics from ATF indicate that there was one shooter that the same handgun was used in both shootings, but this does not conclusively demonstrate that there was one shooter. All deceased are at the medical examiner's office in Roanoke. Names will be released once next of kin are notified.
Update - 10:02 am
Cho Seung-Hui is reported to have left a "disturbing note" behind which may shed some light on his motives. Initial reports indicate that the shooter returned to Harper Hall (his residence hall) to acquire more ammunition and chains for the doors of Norris during the three hour block between the AJ and Norris shootings.
Update - 10:27 am
ABC News indicates that the police are now saying that is is "likely" that Cho Seung-Hui acted alone. It is unclear if this is an interpretation based upon the statements at the News Conference or new information.
Update - 10:32 am
Flags all around Blacksburg are at half staff today as are flags at the White House. The White House flags will remain at half staff until sundown on Sunday. Homes and businesses flying the flag are asked to do the same.
Update - 10:48 am
Fox News has coverage of parents calling for resignations of Tech's President and Police Chief. The "something must be done" sentiment is, by far, the minority in Blacksburg. Most students and residents seem to think that the University took appropriate and prudent steps given the information available at the time. The Mass Media would appear to be actively seeking out the disgruntled parents to create a controversy to keep the story aloft.
Update - Convocation
Since the scope of the tragedy became known yesterday afternoon, the Virginia Tech community has looked forward to a moment of togetherness in the face of chaos. That moment came in a convocation in Tech's Cassell Coliseum today.
Filled to capacity and well in excess beyond that, Cassell housed a small and hastily constructed stage upon which the University addressed its own and the leaders of a Commonwealth and Nation grieved alongside students and faculty.
Introduced by Governor Tim Kaine who was himself introduced by University President Steger, President Bush spoke to the national import of a local tragedy. Laura and I have come to Blacksburg today with hearts full of sorrow,
the President began. We've come to express our sympathy. In this time of anguish, I hope you know that people all over this country are thinking of you and asking God for comfort.
Crowds flooded into Virginia Tech from all over Virginia, and even with chairs filling the court of Cassell Coliseum, the University was forced to open Lane Stadium for the thousands of students and family members that could not find seating in the basketball arena.
When a color guard entered Cassell and the football stadium's audio equipment stood silent, the community stood at attention for a silent rendition of the National Anthem. As dignitaries, professors, and religious leaders spoke within Cassell, the football stadium's loudspeakers mangled oratory into an almost unintelligible caphony of echo and static, the students listened attentively to what words they could catch. And as chill winds whipped the dry grass into a veritable maelstrom of dust and debris, the thousands in Lane Stadium stayed, sat, listened, and did their best to heal.
As the Convocation came to a close an impromptu cheer rose from the thousands inside Cassell and was echoed by the thousands more in the chill stands at Lane Stadium.
"Virginia Tech!" "Ho-kies!" "Virginia Tech!" "Ho-kies!"
As the cries reverberated from the Hokie Stone walls of Ambler Johnston dormitory, just across the street from Cassell Colosseum, a sign, held by a lone student outside of the Convocation thrilled in the spring wind.
"4-16-07 VT United"
