JORGE what's going on at VT? - OT

[flip-flop]

Hey Jorge, are you out there? I have a nephew at VT and am curious what the local news is reporting about shootings on campus? We talked to him about 30 minutes ago and at that point he was ok (on lockdown in a girl's dorm - we won't go into that), but now I am seeing reports that there are as many as 3 shooters?

There is nothing on the Wash Post and very little updated on CNN or MSNBC. I was just curious if you heard anything locally.

Thanks! flip

[suzi]

Yea Jorge- give us an update. My niece is there and on lock down in the chem lab. It is scary stuff!

[augie]

According to cnn.com:

Police: At least 20 killed

At least 20 people were killed in two shootings when a lone gunman opened fire on the Virginia Tech University campus in Blacksburg on Monday, police said. Police said they believe the shooter also is dead. Amie Steele, editor-in-chief of the campus newspaper, said one of her reporters at one of the dormitories where the shootings took place reported "mass chaos."


Shocking and tragic - prayers to everyone with any connection at all to VT.

[wontongirl]

I just got an email from Jorge. He said 28 people. He said ambulances were going everywhere and banks were shut down. The campus was on lockdown. They have the suspects in custody.

[flip-flop]

They just reported here 22 dead, including gunman, and 28 wounded and being treated at local hospitals. How tragic. There are just no words. Suzi I hope your neice is ok.

I did hear it was in the dorm being report and in Norris hall which is an engineering building.

[mia]

I am so distraught over the shootings this morning; it is such a horrible and senseless tragedy. My prayers and thoughts are with the parents and students....mia

[mbw1024]

really awful. senseless.

[sea-nile]

I am so distraught over the shootings this morning; it is such a horrible and senseless tragedy. My prayers and thoughts are with the parents and students....mia

I agree! That is just horrible!

[chicagoans]

I've been working at my desk all morning (I work from a home office) w/out the radio on, and this is the first I heard of it. How tragic! My prayers go out to all the students and staff there, and their families. I'm sure this will emotionally affect students at campuses everywhere.

[Kentuckygirl]

I just heard about it too. I've got fox news on now. I think the death toll is up to 32. This is tragic. Flip flop, Suzi, have you heard anything?

[Robin in NC]

My son is a senior there, lives off-campus. He was on his way to his job in the Tech library when a bunch of police cars flew by him. He called the library, and that's when he found out what was going on. But I had a sick hour and a half trying to get in touch with him...the cell networks were jammed and we couldn't make contact. I can only imagine what some parents are going through right now. No, I can't even imagine.

[chicagoans]

Robin -- I'm so glad you heard from him!

[flip-flop]

WE haven't been able to get back through to our nephew. The news is saying 32 dead now.

I do know there was a 2 hour lull between shootings - the one in the dorm and the one in the engineering building. They had actually lifted the lockdown and then had to reinstate it (according to our first call w/ the nephew).

My sister-in-law and other nephew are in the car on their way there now. I can't even imagine what they are feeling. My 2nd nephew (brother to the one there) is slated to start there next fall too. It is just too sad.

[Kentuckygirl]

I'm praying for you and your family flip-flop. I hope that you all hear from your nephew soon and that he is ok.

[flip-flop]

I am feeling very confident that he is still ok as we talked to him after the news was breaking and he was safely in another dorm. My heart just breaks for him - this has been a tragic year for Tech - and he just loves the whole college experience and for all the families who will be touched by this tragedy.

Blacksburg is really just a quaint, nice town that happens to have a college with 25K+ students. Very very sad thing to be known for.