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Gunman’s Rampage In U.S University
At least 32 people have been murdered and more than 20 wounded by a gunman in a rampage killing at the U.S Virginia Tech University.
Monday 16th April 2007, 22:09
It’s been reported that there were two separate shooting incidents at both Norris Hall, an engineering building and West Ambler Johnston Hall, a student halls of residence, In what has become the US’ deadliest academic shooting.
Many of the major media companies such as Fox News and CNN gave the recent death toll as 32, a figure that worryingly increased from the original estimate of 22 people. Many of the injured chose to escape the gunfire by jumping from the class windows. The rapidly increasing death toll already eclipses the University of Texas massacre back in 1966, when student Charles Whitman, wiped out 13 people as well as his mother and wife the previous night. Despite the investigation being in its early stages, police believe that a majority of the casualties were students and that there was just a lone gunman, who he is now dead. It’s still unknown whether the shooter’s death was of his own accord or whether security forces killed him. Located in the town of Blacksburg, Virginia Tech police chief Wendall Flinchum explained that the emergency services received a cry for help at 7.15am (12.15 GMT) regarding a multiple shooting at West Ambler Johnston Hall. This first incident coincided with students’ first classes of the day, sparking chaos during an already frantic part of the morning where students work their way across the sprawling campus. Students began to venture around the campus as two hours had passed, only for a second shooting to be reported, but this time at the engineering building. “Some of the victims were shot in the classroom,” Mr Flinchum stated. Virginia Tech President Charles Steger also made a swift response to the incident, explaining that relatives of the victims were being informed. “Today the university was struck with a tragedy that we consider of monumental proportions.” Classes have been cancelled for Tuesday and the students have a number of counselors to engage with. The White House released an initial statement from American President George W Bush, declaring that he is both “shocked and saddened” at the murders. White House spokeswoman Dana Perino stated: “He was horrified and his immediate reaction was one of deep concern for the families of the victims, the victims themselves, the students, the professors and all of the people of Virginia who have dealt with this shocking incident." A number of ambulances shuttled the injured to nearby hospitals for medical attention, however, the cold winds and snow impaired the efforts of medical helicopters. Famed as one of the leading technical institutes in the United States, students informed CNN that there had been numerous bomb threats throughout the past weeks, specifically aimed at the University’s science and engineering school where part of the shooting occurred. The shooting will almost certainly revive the age-old debate over gun crime in the United States.
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