A tragedy unfolding: multiple shootings leaving at least one dead and many wounded. Our prayers to the victims. Stay clear from the Virginia Tech area today to let emergency crews do their work.[UPDATE: Over at Daily Kos, FleetAdmiralJ is blogging from "there".]
[UPDATE 12:30 PM: Police have confirmed over 20 fatalities. A mind-numbing tragedy at another Virginia higher education institution.]
[UPDATE 12:31 PM: According to USA Today, "'We have a ballpark figure on fatalities,' a police official just said. 'It's at least 20 fatalities.'"]
[UPDATE 12:50 PM: See WDBJ7 Roanoke for the latest news.]
[UPDATE 1:06 PM: "at least 22 fatalities".]
[UPDATE 1:51 PM: Multiple on air sources are reporting up to 32 fatalities. I'll update with a news link when I find one.]
[UPDATE 1:51 PM: Conflicting but all horrific numbers: Fox News says at least 32 dead, CBS says at least 30, ABC says at least 29.]
[UPDATE 3:10 PM: WaPo reports that "[t]hirty-two people have reportedly been killed and more than two dozen others injured during a shooting rampage this morning at Virginia Tech, making it the deadliest shooting spree in U.S. history, according to law enforcement sources."]
[UPDATE 3:25 PM: GIVE LIFE! GIVE BLOOD! If you're wondering how you can help with this tragedy, it's quite likely that the southwest region needs blood donors now.]
[UPDATE 3:44 PM: The news websites appear to have all agreed on 31 killed right now. The shooter's death makes 32.]
[UPDATE 4:02 PM: Wikipedia on the incident.]
[UPDATE 4:30 PM: Statements by Senator Webb and Governor Kaine in the comments.]
[UPDATE 4:40 PM: Jim Webb speaks on this "incredibly tragic incident."]
{video added by josh}
This is just awful.
I've been crying for about a half-hour now.
An Bush's Press Conference turned to Iraq and blaming Democrats after just saying "His prayers are with them." Fuck you, Mr. President.
I hate to be a bearer of bad news, but I heard from a girl who has a friend that works near Tech that the fatalities are around 31, but are not being reported as of yet.
I never thought it could get worse than Columbine.
Clearly, I was way wrong.
Gov. Timothy M. Kaine leaves Sunday for a two-week excursion that will take him to Japan, Hong Kong and India in search of economic development prospects and trade partners for Virginia.
Anyone know if his office has released a statement?
RICHMOND - Governor Timothy M. Kaine released the following statement regarding today's shootings at Virginia Tech:
"It is difficult to comprehend senseless violence on this scale.
"Our prayers are with the families and friends of these victims, and members of the extended Virginia Tech community.
"The state is working closely with Tech officials, local law enforcement, and the community health system to provide whatever additional resources and support may be needed.
"My staff has made arrangements for me to leave Tokyo today, where I was set to begin a two-week Asian trade mission, so that I can return to the Commonwealth on Tuesday.
"I urge Virginians to keep these victims and their families in their thoughts and prayers."
# # #
This is awful; I can't imagine the panic of the parents whose children are there.
A few tidbits:
1) this one hits too close to home.
2) I've been working to feed info (from local TV) to my husband, who was stuck on campus (he was getting no info). He is now home safe and sound.
3) My husband got no info about the first shooting until after 10 AM. I informed my husband before he heard anything. I heard so many sirens that I got on the local TV website and immediately found that Tech had been "locked down" from the first shooting. As I was talking to my husband on the phone, he heard an emergency announcement (the first one he got) to stay in lock down and away from windows.
As things began to unfold, the Tech website became inaccessible. And then the news kept getting worse and worse. Additional casualties at Norris, a building I myself have had a doctoral class in in the past. (West AJ is the dorm our daughter once lived in some years ago).
One of the most frightening things is to realize that faculty and the half of students (those living off campus) should not have even been on campus at all because the initial event happened hours earlier. Not enough people got word about all of this.
4) Complicating things is that I lost my PC connection repeatedly due to high winds. I've also had a brownout today. I am not sure how long I'll have power because it keeps going off.
5) The August tragedy at first appeared to have spread to campus. Later on, we learned that the gunman back then never had been on campus. It was still a tragedy that affected us all. This time, however, the magnitude is so much worse.
Note: It now appears the gunman had considerable ammunition and more than one weapon. This was apparently planned. He apparently chained the exits to the building (Norris). This would explain why there have been reports that some students jumped out of windows in Norris earlier today.
A Memorial service will be in Cassel Coliseum at noon tomorrow. All classes are canceled tomorrow. Please pray for everyone affected by this.
To you, To Dan, and to all with personal connections to this disaster, know that you are in the hearts and thoughts of many.
It's so awful there just isn't that much more a person can say.
Peace and strength to all.
Michael Sizemore
Virginia Tech Class of 2006
STATEMENT OF THE GOVERNORRICHMOND - Governor Timothy M. Kaine released the following statement regarding today's shootings at Virginia Tech:
"It is difficult to comprehend senseless violence on this scale.
"Our prayers are with the families and friends of these victims, and members of the extended Virginia Tech community.
"The state is working closely with Tech officials, local law enforcement, and the community health system to provide whatever additional resources and support may be needed.
"My staff has made arrangements for me to leave Tokyo today, where I was set to begin a two-week Asian trade mission, so that I can return to the Commonwealth on Tuesday.
"I urge Virginians to keep these victims and their families in their thoughts and prayers."
Statement of Senator Webb on the School Shootings at Virginia TechThe following is a statement from Senator Jim Webb regarding the school shootings at Virginia Tech:
"I am truly saddened to hear of the tragic shooting at Virginia Tech. My heart goes out to the parents and families of the victims of this senseless act. My office has been in communication with the Governor's office and officials at Virginia Tech to offer any assistance."
Also, the Webb office says that he and Senator Warner plan to head to Virginia Tech tomorrow...
Two weeks ago, on a bright, sunny, warm and peaceful spring day, I rode my motorcycle about 30 miles south of our home to visit the Tech campus once again, always a beautiful place to behold and experience.
As I sat on my bike on the narrow road which surrounds the Tech drill field, at a student crosswalk within view of Norris Hall waiting for the pedestrian traffic to clear, I reflected on the beauty of the campus and the quiet, friendly nature of its smiling, laughing, talking - always talking - students on the move to or from classes or other activities.
The Virginia Tech campus and environs have changed significantly since I graduated from there nearly 35 years ago, the student body has nearly doubled, but the students seemed to be just like those with whom I had attended that wonderful university all those years ago.
When my wife and I first sent our sons off to Virginia Tech nearly a decade ago, we had no concerns about their safety, and we were glad that in order for them to go to college, they were able to get away from home, but not too far away...
My heart and thoughts and prayers go out to all of those who were hurt or killed or otherwise affected by yesterday's incomprehensibly senseless tragedy, and especially to those parents who sent their children off to college, thinking that they would be safe and secure.
Yesterday's tragedy was truly a parent's worst nightmare, and it could happen anywhere, anytime.
I will visit Virginia Tech again, soon, and I'm sure it will be beautiful there, as always, but it will be forever different, too. On my next trip to Tech, I will appreciate the campus - and especially the students - even more.
Of the thousands of Virginia Tech students and professors and other staff members and support personnel, it now appears that one student was deeply troubled, became violent and inflicted himself on that previously tranquil community.
One person - that's all it takes to create an unthinkable nightmare.
Steve