31 Dead: VT Deadliest Campus Shooting in US History

WSLS Staff
Published: April 16, 2007

Police say a gunman at Virginia Tech University has killed 31 people after he opened fire in a dorm and classroom. The gunman was killed, but it was unclear if he was shot by police or took his own life.

The first happened at a co-ed residence hall between 7:15 and 7:30 AM at West Ambler Johnston Dorm. This dormitory houses nearly 900 students. The gunfire continued about two hours later inside a classroom in Norris Hall, an engineering building. Virginia Tech’s police chief says one student was killed in the dorm and the others were killed in the classroom.

The university’s president says the school considers the shootings a tragedy of “monumental proportions.” All entrances to the campus have been closed and classes are canceled through tomorrow. VT officials are urging people not to go on campus. Virginia Tech is using it’s warning system to tell students to stay in their dorms.

Virginia Tech students and an employee say the first e-mail warning they got from the university about the shooting rampage came more than two hours after the first shots were fired - by which time the gunman had struck again.

Montgomery County Schools are on lockdown until further notice.

Blacksburg Transit bus transportation has been suspended until further notice