Virginia Tech shootings; two killed, suspect at large

A suspect remained at large Thursday afternoon on the campus of Virginia Tech after a police officer and at least one other person were shot dead, the university said.

During a traffic stop on campus, the suspect shot and killed a Virginia Tech police officer and then fled on foot through a nearby parking lot.

A second person was later found dead in that parking lot, the university said.

The university said the status of the shooter was unknown and the school remained on lockdown.

A university alert released after the shooting described the possible shooter as a white male wearing gray sweat pants, a gray hat with a neon green brim, a maroon hoodie and backpack.

The campus is the site of the deadliest shooting rampage in U.S. history, and the tragedy led to widespread security changes on campus and at other institutions nationwide.

The April 2007 massacre at Virginia Tech left 33 people dead, including the gunman, Seung-hui Cho, who turned his weapon on himself before authorities could capture him.

Cho, 23, fired more than 100 shots at his 32 victims, many of whom were crouched in defensive positions at the time they were killed. The university faced widespread criticism and fines in the wake of the shooting. Critics said the university waited two hours after the first bullets were fired -- and two students were killed -- to issue a campuswide alert. Less than half an hour after an alert was finally emailed, 30 others were slain elsewhere on campus by the same gunman.

Cho had been detained previously by campus police investigating allegations that he was stalking female students, and was held at a nearby private mental health facility. He was deemed to be an "imminent danger to self or others as a result of mental illness" but Cho still ended back on campus.

Here are posts from the university's Twitter feed, @VTnews:

“Gun shots reported- Coliseum Parking lot. Stay Inside. Secure doors. Emergency personnel responding. Call 911 for help.” That was quickly followed by “Suspect described as white male, gray sweat pants, gray hat w/neon green brim, maroon hoodie and backpack. On foot towards McComas. Call 911”

And then several minutes after that: “A police officer has been shot. A potential second victim is reported at the Cage lot. Stay indoors. Secure in place.”

polska. wrote:This is the third shooting/rampage at VT in recent years isn't it?

grenade187 wrote:Only in Latin America.

ahlycotc wrote:

polska. wrote:This is the third shooting/rampage at VT in recent years isn't it?

Yeah.

Steve, if you are reading this...are you still at the school or did you graduate already?

Eternal Witcher wrote:God bless the right to bear arms.

Steadman wrote:

ahlycotc wrote:

Yeah.

Steve, if you are reading this...are you still at the school or did you graduate already?

Steve did not read this.

polska. wrote:

Steadman wrote:
Steve did not read this.

Plane Crash.

Eternal Witcher wrote:God bless the right to bear arms.

Mustangt125 wrote:

Eternal Witcher wrote:God bless the right to bear arms.

That has almost nothing to do with this, smartass.

ahlycotc wrote:

Mustangt125 wrote:

That has almost nothing to do with this, smartass.

It definitely is one of the reasons the US is notorious for shootings.

Mustangt125 wrote:

ahlycotc wrote:

It definitely is one of the reasons the US is notorious for shootings.

I am willing to bet that he isn't bearing arms in the fashion that is protected by the Constitution. I highly doubt his gun was registered, I highly doubt he took a right to carry class, I highly doubt he had a license for the gun itself. Fundamentally different from what the Constitution protects.

Mustangt125 wrote:

ahlycotc wrote:

It definitely is one of the reasons the US is notorious for shootings.

I am willing to bet that he isn't bearing arms in the fashion that is protected by the Constitution. I highly doubt his gun was registered, I highly doubt he took a right to carry class, I highly doubt he had a license for the gun itself. Fundamentally different from what the Constitution protects.

ahlycotc wrote:

Mustangt125 wrote:

I am willing to bet that he isn't bearing arms in the fashion that is protected by the Constitution. I highly doubt his gun was registered, I highly doubt he took a right to carry class, I highly doubt he had a license for the gun itself. Fundamentally different from what the Constitution protects.

You're not seeing the point. Many people that have committed shootings have had properly registered guns.

I think the right to bear arms is an outdated part of the constitution anyways and should be reviewed. If we eliminate guns from the public, you wouldn't need to defend yourself with one because the attacker wouldn't have a gun either. If he got one illegally, that's a whole different issue, but at least it would decrease the chances. There are other efficient ways to stop an attacker other than shooting them or even without killing them.

Mustangt125 wrote:

ahlycotc wrote:

You're not seeing the point. Many people that have committed shootings have had properly registered guns.

I think the right to bear arms is an outdated part of the constitution anyways and should be reviewed. If we eliminate guns from the public, you wouldn't need to defend yourself with one because the attacker wouldn't have a gun either. If he got one illegally, that's a whole different issue, but at least it would decrease the chances. There are other efficient ways to stop an attacker other than shooting them or even without killing them.

I understand what youre saying, but that's never going to happen. If we eliminate guns, what is going to stop the people who will already be criminals from getting it illegally?

Then if he enters my home, he can rob me, rape my wife, then murder us. The right to defend oneself is one of the most basic.....things.....of mankind.

The system is not perfect, but I stand by what I wrote above. And to the story, I hate when shit like this happens. There was a dude they thought had a gun on my campus couple years ago, shits scary son.

Mustangt125 wrote:

ahlycotc wrote:

You're not seeing the point. Many people that have committed shootings have had properly registered guns.

I think the right to bear arms is an outdated part of the constitution anyways and should be reviewed. If we eliminate guns from the public, you wouldn't need to defend yourself with one because the attacker wouldn't have a gun either. If he got one illegally, that's a whole different issue, but at least it would decrease the chances. There are other efficient ways to stop an attacker other than shooting them or even without killing them.

I understand what youre saying, but that's never going to happen. If we eliminate guns, what is going to stop the people who will already be criminals from getting it illegally?

Then if he enters my home, he can rob me, rape my wife, then murder us. The right to defend oneself is one of the most basic.....things.....of mankind.

The system is not perfect, but I stand by what I wrote above. And to the story, I hate when shit like this happens. There was a dude they thought had a gun on my campus couple years ago, shits scary son.