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US gunman 'a university student' US gunman 'a university student'
(30 minutes later)
A gunman who shot dead at least 30 people before killing himself at Virginia Tech university was a resident Asian student, its president has said.A gunman who shot dead at least 30 people before killing himself at Virginia Tech university was a resident Asian student, its president has said.
Charles Steger did not identify the man, whom he said had been living in the university dormitories.Charles Steger did not identify the man, whom he said had been living in the university dormitories.
Another two people were also shot dead at the university. Mr Steger said police were investigating whether there had been a second gunman. Another two people were killed at an earlier shooting at the university. Mr Steger said police were investigating whether there had been a second gunman.
The shootings were the worst such attack in US history.The shootings were the worst such attack in US history.
Students have accused the authorities of failing to alert them quickly enough to the danger.Students have accused the authorities of failing to alert them quickly enough to the danger.
Locations of Virginia Tech campus shootings Locations of Virginia Tech campus shootings
The shootings on Monday occurred in two separate locations, two hours apart.The shootings on Monday occurred in two separate locations, two hours apart.
In an interview with ABC television, Mr Steger said the "possibility exists" that more than one gunman was involved.In an interview with ABC television, Mr Steger said the "possibility exists" that more than one gunman was involved.
The shooter shot the door twice at chest level, which resulted in two holes in the door, one of which hit the podium in the front of the classroom Nikolas Macko, student Shooter tried the door E-mail witness accounts Send us your reaction
"It appears that the second shooter was a resident in our dormitory... it appears he was an on-campus resident," he said."It appears that the second shooter was a resident in our dormitory... it appears he was an on-campus resident," he said.
Thirty people were killed in the second shooting, at about 0915 (1415 GMT), which took place about half a mile (800 metres) from the first shooting on the same campus.Thirty people were killed in the second shooting, at about 0915 (1415 GMT), which took place about half a mile (800 metres) from the first shooting on the same campus.
Students said they had only been informed by e-mail two hours after the first shooting occurred. Some students complained angrily that they had received no warning from the university until an e-mail more than two hours after the first incident at 0715 (1215 GMT), at West Ambler Johnston Hall dormitory.
Mr Steger described the shootings as "two very tragic events" that "may or may not" be related. Student Billy Bason, 18, said: "I think the university has blood on their hands because of their lack of action after the first incident."
"We just don't know at this point in time," he said. Mr Steger defended the university's actions after the initial shooting, saying: "We had no reason to suspect any other incident was going to occur.
Earlier, Mr Steger defended the university's actions after the initial shooting, saying: "We had no reason to suspect any other incident was going to occur. VIRGINIA TECH UNIVERSITY Founded in 187226,000+ students and 10,000 staff2,600-acre (1,040-hectare) campus class="" href="/1/hi/world/americas/6562529.stm">Q&A: Campus shooting class="" href="/1/hi/world/americas/6563813.stm">Indian killed in rampage
"We can only make decisions based on the information you had at the time. You don't have hours to reflect on it.""We can only make decisions based on the information you had at the time. You don't have hours to reflect on it."
He described the shootings as "two very tragic events" that "may or may not" be related.
"We just don't know at this point in time," he said.
Police said they thought the first incident was isolated and "domestic" and that the gunman had left the campus.Police said they thought the first incident was isolated and "domestic" and that the gunman had left the campus.
They have still not said for sure that the two attacks were linked. They have confirmed that two handguns were recovered.
They say they have a preliminary ID of the dead gunman but have not released it. There is no clue yet as to any motive.
Erin Sheehan, a witness to the shooting in which 30 died, described the gunman as "a little bit under six-feet tall, young looking, Asian, dressed sort of strangely, almost like a boy scout, very short-sleeved light, tan shirt and some sort of ammo vest with black over it".
LOCATIONS OF VIRGINIA TECH CAMPUS SHOOTINGS 1) 0715: Two killed at West Ambler Johnston Hall, a dormitory building. Police believe incident isolated and "domestic" in nature2) 0945 (approx): 30 killed in shooting at engineering building, Norris Hall. Gunman kills himselfLOCATIONS OF VIRGINIA TECH CAMPUS SHOOTINGS 1) 0715: Two killed at West Ambler Johnston Hall, a dormitory building. Police believe incident isolated and "domestic" in nature2) 0945 (approx): 30 killed in shooting at engineering building, Norris Hall. Gunman kills himself
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