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Virginia massacre gunman is named Virginia massacre gunman is named
(20 minutes later)
Police have named a student who shot dead at least 30 people at a US university as Cho Seung-hui, a 23-year-old from South Korea.Police have named a student who shot dead at least 30 people at a US university as Cho Seung-hui, a 23-year-old from South Korea.
He was studying English and had been living on the university campus. He killed himself after the rampage. Cho was studying English and had been living on the university campus. He killed himself after the rampage.
Police said a gun found at the scene was also used at an earlier shooting in which two people were killed. He is also thought to have killed two people earlier in the day. It was the worst gun massacre in US history.
It was the worst gun massacre in US history. A memorial service is being held at the university on Tuesday. US President George Bush told a university memorial service it was "a day of sadness for our entire nation".
US President George Bush and his wife Laura are attending. Mr Bush, attending with his wife Laura, called for people to offer help to bereaved relatives, and said: "We ask God to provide comfort for all those affected."
Locations of Virginia Tech campus shootingsLocations of Virginia Tech campus shootings
There was a sombre atmosphere as students thronged the university's Cassell Coliseum sports centre for the memorial which is being screened on the campus TV.
University president Charles Steger said the "entire nation and people from many other nations are coming together to grieve" over the tragedy, and he hoped it would help begin the healing process.University president Charles Steger said the "entire nation and people from many other nations are coming together to grieve" over the tragedy, and he hoped it would help begin the healing process.
There was a sombre atmosphere as students thronged the university's Cassell Coliseum sports centre for the memorial which was screened on the campus TV.
The shootings on Monday occurred in two separate locations, two hours apart.The shootings on Monday occurred in two separate locations, two hours apart.
CHO SEUNG-HUI 23 years oldSouth KoreanFinal year studentStudying EnglishLived on campus 'Loner' behind massacre Victims' profiles CHO SEUNG-HUI 23 years oldSouth KoreanFinal year studentStudying EnglishLived on campus 'Loner' behind massacre Victims' profiles class="" href="/1/hi/world/americas/6565039.stm">Students share grief on net
The first took place at 0715 (1215 GMT), at West Ambler Johnston Hall dormitory. The first took place at 0715 (1215 GMT), at West Ambler Johnston Hall dormitory, where a man and a woman were shot dead.
Then, at about 0915 (1415 GMT), 30 people were killed in the second shooting at Norris Hall, about half a mile (800 metres) from the first, on the same campus.Then, at about 0915 (1415 GMT), 30 people were killed in the second shooting at Norris Hall, about half a mile (800 metres) from the first, on the same campus.
Police confirmed that two handguns - 9mm and 22mm weapons - were recovered at the scene of the second shooting, and that one of them was also used in the first incident.Police confirmed that two handguns - 9mm and 22mm weapons - were recovered at the scene of the second shooting, and that one of them was also used in the first incident.
"It's certainly reasonable for us to assume that Cho was the shooter in both places," police said."It's certainly reasonable for us to assume that Cho was the shooter in both places," police said.
However, they are investigating whether he had an accomplice.However, they are investigating whether he had an accomplice.
'Loner''Loner'
Police said Cho Seung-hui was a South Korean living legally in the US.Police said Cho Seung-hui was a South Korean living legally in the US.
Victims were found in at least four classrooms as well as a stairwell Colonel Steve FlahertyVirginia State Police US media soul-searching Send us your reactionVictims were found in at least four classrooms as well as a stairwell Colonel Steve FlahertyVirginia State Police US media soul-searching Send us your reaction
It is reported that he had lived in the US from a young age.It is reported that he had lived in the US from a young age.
Nevertheless, South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun "was shocked beyond description", and sent "deep condolences" to the victims, their families and the American people, his office said in a statement.Nevertheless, South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun "was shocked beyond description", and sent "deep condolences" to the victims, their families and the American people, his office said in a statement.
Police did not suggest a motive for the attack.Police did not suggest a motive for the attack.
Larry Hincker, associate vice president for university relations at Virginia Tech, said: "He was a loner, and we're having difficulty finding information about him."Larry Hincker, associate vice president for university relations at Virginia Tech, said: "He was a loner, and we're having difficulty finding information about him."
US media reported that a "disturbing" note had been found in Cho Seung-hui's dormitory, and that he had been referred for counselling after producing "troubled" work in his creative writing class.US media reported that a "disturbing" note had been found in Cho Seung-hui's dormitory, and that he had been referred for counselling after producing "troubled" work in his creative writing class.
At a press conference on Tuesday the superintendent of Virginia state police, Colonel Steve Flaherty, described the scene of the massacre.At a press conference on Tuesday the superintendent of Virginia state police, Colonel Steve Flaherty, described the scene of the massacre.
Among the dead were profs Liviu Librescu (L) and GV Loganathan (R)Among the dead were profs Liviu Librescu (L) and GV Loganathan (R)
"Personal effects were strewn about the entire second floor of Norris Hall so it made it much more difficult for us to identify students and faculty members that were victims," he said."Personal effects were strewn about the entire second floor of Norris Hall so it made it much more difficult for us to identify students and faculty members that were victims," he said.
"Victims were found in at least four classrooms as well as a stairwell. We know that there were a number of heroic events that took place within minutes of this tragedy unfolding."Victims were found in at least four classrooms as well as a stairwell. We know that there were a number of heroic events that took place within minutes of this tragedy unfolding.
"The gunman was discovered among several of the victims in one of the classrooms. He had taken his own life.""The gunman was discovered among several of the victims in one of the classrooms. He had taken his own life."
At least fourteen people remained in hospital on Tuesday. A hospital spokesman said most were stable.At least fourteen people remained in hospital on Tuesday. A hospital spokesman said most were stable.
The university said all classes would be suspended for the rest of the week, while Norris Hall would remain closed for the rest of the semester.The university said all classes would be suspended for the rest of the week, while Norris Hall would remain closed for the rest of the semester.
Memorial Some students have complained that they were put at risk by the university, saying they had received no warning until an e-mail more than two hours after the first incident.
At the university's Cassell Coliseum sports centre, long lines of students, relatives and local people, many in the university colours of orange and purple, waited for the afternoon's memorial service.
Some students said they had decided to stay for the service but would return home to be with their families afterwards.
Some complained that they were put at risk by the university, saying they had received no warning until an e-mail more than two hours after the first incident.
WORST US SCHOOLS SHOOTINGS 1 August 1966 - Sniper Charles Whitman kills 14 people and injures dozens at University of Texas20 April 1999 - Two teenagers at Columbine High School, Colorado, kill 13 before killing themselves21 March 2005 - A teenager on an Indian reservation in Red Lake, Minnesota, kills nine In pictures: Victims mourned Keeping campuses safeWORST US SCHOOLS SHOOTINGS 1 August 1966 - Sniper Charles Whitman kills 14 people and injures dozens at University of Texas20 April 1999 - Two teenagers at Columbine High School, Colorado, kill 13 before killing themselves21 March 2005 - A teenager on an Indian reservation in Red Lake, Minnesota, kills nine In pictures: Victims mourned Keeping campuses safe
Student Billy Bason, 18, said: "I think the university has blood on their hands because of their lack of action after the first incident."Student Billy Bason, 18, said: "I think the university has blood on their hands because of their lack of action after the first incident."
But university president Charles Steger defended his staff, saying they "had no reason to suspect any other incident was going to occur". But the university president has defended his staff, saying they "had no reason to suspect any other incident was going to occur".
Virginia Tech and police said they would not name the victims of the attacks until all had been identified, and their families informed.Virginia Tech and police said they would not name the victims of the attacks until all had been identified, and their families informed.
However, some of the names of the victims emerged when their families or colleagues volunteered the information.However, some of the names of the victims emerged when their families or colleagues volunteered the information.
At least two of the dead were university professors.At least two of the dead were university professors.
One was GV Loganathan, 51, an Indian-born lecturer in civil and environmental engineering, and another was Liviu Librescu, a Romanian-born Israeli expert on aeronautical engineering.One was GV Loganathan, 51, an Indian-born lecturer in civil and environmental engineering, and another was Liviu Librescu, a Romanian-born Israeli expert on aeronautical engineering.
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 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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