This will be my last update of Virginia Tech. I need to step away from it. I can’t keep reading these stories and interviews. I was ignoring all other news and immersing myself completely in this event. I need to focus on several things at once. I need to form an opinion and educate myself on all current events. Ethan or TheShamelessOne may choose to continue picking up this story, but that of course will be up to them. Don’t worry though I won’t leave you in the dark. If there are major changes to anything, I will of course update you. I will also post the link to the wikipedia entry.

We now know alot more about Seung-Hui Cho. We have heard (and in some occasions read) of his disturbed writings. Writings which were filled with graphic violence. He had also been investigated for stalking 2 students. I refuse to this as an excuse or an explanation but he was also diagnosed as mentally ill in 2005 by a Virginia special justice, in which he was ordered to seek outpatient treatment. Cho’s great-aunt also claims that he was diagnosed with autism at age 8.

Personally, I think that the most disturbing piece of information is the videos that he sent to NBC. The package was sent in between the first shooting and the second. During these videos he blames everyone and everything possible. He says “I didn’t have to do this. I could have left. I could have fled, but no I will no longer run.” He continues with, “It’s not for me; it’s for my children, for my brothers and sisters… I did it for them.” He compares himself to Jesus Christ, saying that he crucified himself like Christ in order to inspire the weak and defenseless people.

While those videos are sad and tragic yet overwhelming disgusting and disturbing, somewhere deep my heart bleeds for the little boy he must have been. The one that became so broken he couldn’t climb out of the hole that he was in. I wonder when exactly the break in his mind, spirit, and soul began. This whole situation is tragic. All the lives were ended needlessly. Hopefully we will learn a lesson and grow from all of this, the lesson we should have learned long ago. We HAVE to tolerate and respect each other. We don’t have to like each other, because lets face it that is a tall order. We HAVE to stop the demeaning, judging, and persecution. We are all stuck here together, we HAVE to learn to live together in peace.

With that said, I’m going to wrap this up. Below you will the new list of victims, as well as, the link to VT wikipedia entry.

Ross Abdallah Alameddine- Saugus, Massachusetts
Brian Roy Bluhm- Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Ryan Christoper Clark- Martinez, Georgia
Austin Michelle Cloyd- Blacksburg, Virginia
Matthew Gregory Gwaltney- Chesterfield, Virginia
Caitlin Millar Hammaren- Westtown, New York
Jeremy Michael Herbstritt- Blacksburg, Virginia
Rachael Elizabeth Hill- No additional information at this time.
Emily Jane Hilscher- Woodville, Virginia
Jarrett Lee Lane- Narrows, Virginia
Matthew Joseph La Porte- Dumont, New Jersey
Henry J. Lee- Roanoke, Virginia
Partahi Mamora Halomoan Lumbantoruan- Blacksburg, Virginia (orginially from Indonesia)
Lauren Ashley McCain- Hampton, Virginia
Daniel Patrick O’Neil- Lincoln, Rhode Island
J. Ortiz-Ortiz- no additional information at this time
Minal Hiralal Panchal- Mumbai, India
Daniel Alejandro Perez- Woodbridge, Virginia
Erin Nicole Peterson- Centreville, Virginia
Michael Steven Pohle, Jr.- Flemington, New Jersey
Julia Kathleen Pryde- Blacksburg, Virginia
Mary Karen Read- Annandale, Virginia
Reema Joseph Samaha- Centreville, Virginia
Waleed Mohamed Shaalan- Blacksburg, Virginia (originally from Egypt)
Leslie Geraldine Sherman- Springfield, Virginia
Maxine Shelly Turner- Vienna, Virginia
Nicole White- Smithfield, Virginia
Christopher James Bishop- Foreign Languages Instructor
Jocelyne Couture-Nowak- Adjunct Professor, Foreign Languages
Kevin P. Granata- Professor of Engineering Science and Mechanics
Liviu Librescu- Professor of Engineering Science and Mechanics
G.V. Loganathan- Professor of Civil and Enviromental Engineering

Virginia Tech Tragedy on Wikipedia

Until next time and in memory of those who died,
autumn

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More information has come to light today about the shootings. Some names of the victims have been released and the shooter has been identified. At the end of this post I will give the list of names that I have found. As I have said before I will continue to update any new information that comes to light.

The shooter was identified as 23 year old Cho Seung-Hui. He was a resident of Centerville Va, but resided in the dorms. There were two weapons found with him; one was a 9mm and the second was a 22mm. Cho apparently wanted to remain anonymous. He carried no id on his person and wiped the serial numbers from both guns. Also at this time there still is no known motive; while there was a note found in his dorm room with several grievances about the campus life. It is also believed that during the 2 hours time difference he went back to his dorm room to prepare for the second part of his action.

Classes will be canceled for the remainder of the week, and the school has offered several counseling opportunities for the students and family to express their grief. Also at this time 12 victims remain hospitalized. While the full list of those who died have not been released this is what we have heard at this time:

Ross Alameddine- 20, Saugus, Mass.
Christopher James Bishop- 35, German Proffessor
Brian Bluhm- no additional information at this time
Ryan Clark- 22, Martinez, GA
Jocelyne Couture-Nowak, a foreign language professor.
Daniel Perez Cueva- Student from Peruvia
Prof. Kevin Granata- 45
Caitlin Hammaren- 19, Westtown, NY
Jeremy Herbstritt- no additional information at this time.
Rachael Hill- 18, Henrico County
Emily Jane Hilscher- 19, Woodville
Jarrett Lane- Narrows, VA
Matt La Porte- Dumont, NJ
Henry Lee- Roanoke, VA
Prof. Liviu Librescu- 76
Prof. G.V. Loganathan- 51
Lauren McCain- 20, Hampton, VA
Daniel O’Neil, 22, Rhode Island
Juan Ortiz- 26, Bayamon, Puerto Rico
Erin Peterson- no additional information at this time
Julia Pryde- Middletown, NJ
Mary Karen Read- Annandale VA
Reema Samaha- Centreville, VA
Leslie Sherman- no additional information at this time
Maxine Turner- Vienna, VA
Nicole White- 20, Hampton Roads, VA

One final note, CrimsonLadybug, you are absolutely right. I still remember the Columbine day vividly too. I remember exactly where I was and what happened while all the students with me watched in horror. This will never fade away. Not in CO, or VA, or the Amish shooting in PA. We learn to cope and deal with the pain that’s present and never understanding why. Thank you for the lit candles. It means alot.

Until next time, I’ll be learning to cope,
autumn

http://beshameless.net/archives/2007/04/18/an-update-on-virginia-tech/trackback/

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“There are hurts so deep that one can not reach them or heal them with words” – Kate Seredy

I know you all have heard about the tragedy that took place in Blacksburg, VA today. This really hits me in the heart. The details of what happened are still unclear and law enforcement is working on finding out all the information that they can. However at the time of writing this there are a few things that we believe are accurate. (If any of this information changes I will post an update.)

33 men and women are dead after a massacre on the Virginia Tech campus today. The Washington Post is also saying at least 30 more were injured. The shooter at this time is still unidentified but is said to be an Asian male. He had used two 9mm pistols in his unbelievable rampage. It is also believed that he used chains to lock the main entrances of the building in one shooting.

The shootings took place in two locations more than two hours apart. The first shooting took place in the dormitory of West Ambler Johnston. Two students were killed during the first shooting. This shooting was reported to happen approximately at 7:15 am. At the time law enforcement believed this as an isolated incident. So, there was no need to “lock down” the campus. They believed that the suspect had fled and were continuing the investigation when the second shooting occurred.

The second shooting took place at Norris Hall (where the college of science and engineering is housed) two hours later and almost a half mile away. This is the shooting that the chains were used to lock the entrances. It is also where 30 students were killed before the shooter turned his weapon on his self.

This is a very sad story with many questions still to be answered. Of course the biggest questions are who and why. There are also questions being posed to the directors of Virginia Tech. Such as why the school was not immediately placed on lock down, and any errors that may have been made to keep students safe, such as the notification system. Questions that, I personally think, should be put on hold until families are notified, the who and why are answered, and students are given time to take this all in and grieve.

I think that it is also notable to say that in the past weeks there have been several bomb threats. Two of the threats were aimed at the science and engineering department. However, at this time, there is no information if this is connected to the shooting today.

As I said before, this is an incident close to my heart. I have friends and ex-coworkers that attended Virginia Tech. I haven’t heard anything from them yet, but I am keeping my hopes up. At the same time, I am happy to say Ethan had some coworkers that attended the school as well. They are all safe and uninjured.

I just wish that everyone was as lucky as Ethan. It is really heart-breaking to see this story unfold. I hope all those that are injured pull through. I will keep you updated as more information comes to light.

Until next time, my heart bleeds for Virginia Tech,

autumn

http://beshameless.net/archives/2007/04/16/its-a-very-sad-day/trackback/

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