The Virginia Tech Massacre

It was really a tragedy. 33 lives lost in the massacre, including the gunman, in two shootings. The first shooting took place at 7:15am last Monday at West Ambler Johnston Hall where two residents were killed. Police officers were called in and a "suspect" was held. While questioning the "suspect", second shooting was reported. It was later determined that the police officers have caught the wrong person. University authorities have been blamed for its response to the first shooting, which they should have closed down the Universities buildings.

An independent panel has been appointed to investigate the incident.

Virginia's governor, Tim Kaine, said that the investigation was not dedicated to lay blame, but to prevent any such incidents to take place in the future. The six-member panel, leads by the former Virginia police chief Gerald Massengill, consists of security and education officials, as well as psychiatrist. The panel will focus on the mental treatment Cho's has been taken and examined if more could have been done to avert the massacre.

"What were the warning signs? Who was warned? What was done?" Mr. Kaine said these would be the questions to be investigated as reported by BBC News.

In fact, signs and warning have been given out. His English teachers raised concerns over his disturbing writing and behavior to the university authorities and police. However, these have been ignored.

The gunman, Cho, posted a package consisted of photographs and video footage of himself to NBC News in between the shooting. "You had a hundred billion chances and ways to have avoided today..." quoted him as saying from one of the video footage as reported by BBC News. His messages also expressed his hatred of wealthy.

Cho and his family moved to USA when he was 8. He was reported to be a "loner". In late 2005, he was declared mentally sick and was ordered to seek outpatient treatment.

Robin Kowalski, a psychologist at Clemson University in South Carolina, claimed that five common factors were identified in the shootings. "The first is an acute rejection episode - such as a break up with a girlfriend - which usually takes place shortly before the killer acts." BBC News online quoted her as saying (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6567143.stm, accessed 21st April 2007). Although it was not certain Cho had experienced actue rejection, in Cho's video, he hinted he believed that there was an on-going of rejection which could be another factor that triggered the shootings, Kowalski analysed as reported by BBC News.


I feel so sorry for the victims and their family. Should there be more love, this incident could have been avoided.