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Virginia gunman sent media letter Virginia gunman sent final video
(40 minutes later)
The student who shot dead at least 30 people at Virginia Tech sent a package to the US TV network NBC News on the day of the shootings, police said.The student who shot dead at least 30 people at Virginia Tech sent a package to the US TV network NBC News on the day of the shootings, police said.
The package contained "disturbing" photographs, video and writings, NBC said, posted on the college campus between the two rounds of killings. The package contained "disturbing" photographs, video and writings, NBC said, posted from the college campus between the two rounds of killings.
The correspondence has been turned over to the FBI for examination. Cho Seung-hui is shown pointing guns at the camera, and ranting angrily.
A total of 33 people, including the gunman, Cho Seung-hui, died in shootings at two locations on Monday. A total of 33 people, including the gunman himself, died in shootings at two locations on Monday.
The website of NBC affiliate MSNBC displayed one of the pictures Cho had sent, showing him with a grim-faced look, holding two pistols. "You had a hundred billion chances and ways to have avoided today," the 23-year-old gunman said angrily, in an excerpt shown on NBC Nightly News.
"This may be a very new, critical component of this investigation," said Col Steve Flaherty, superintendent of the Virginia State Police. class="" href="/1/hi/world/americas/6570369.stm">Gunman's message class="" href="/1/hi/in_depth/629/629/6563451.stm">Timeline and key locations
"We're in the process right now of attempting to analyze and evaluate its worth," he said. "But you decided to spill my blood. You forced me into a corner and gave me only one option. The decision was yours. Now you have blood on your hands that will never wash off," Cho said.
"I didn't have to do this. I could have left. I could have fled. But now I will no longer run," the gunman said.
Col Steve Flaherty, superintendent of the Virginia State Police, said that the multimedia package "may be a very new, critical component of this investigation".
"We're in the process right now of attempting to analyse and evaluate its worth," he said.
Police have also revealed that Cho was admitted to a mental health unit in late 2005.Police have also revealed that Cho was admitted to a mental health unit in late 2005.
He was sent for evaluation after two female students made complaints against him, they said.He was sent for evaluation after two female students made complaints against him, they said.
'Multimedia manifesto' 'Very angry'
NBC said a time stamp on the package indicated it was sent in the two-hour interval between two killings in a dormitory and a second, massive round of killings in a classroom building.NBC said a time stamp on the package indicated it was sent in the two-hour interval between two killings in a dormitory and a second, massive round of killings in a classroom building.
The company said the package was received on Wednesday. The company said the package was received in Wednesday morning's mail.
class="" href="/1/hi/in_depth/629/629/6563451.stm">Timeline and key locations Memorials have been erected on the Virginia Tech campus
Head of NBC News Steve Capus said it contained a "rambling, manifesto-like statement embedded with a series of photographs." It contained an 1,800-word diatribe and 29 photos, 11 of them showing Cho aiming handguns at the camera.
Head of NBC News Steve Capus said it had a "rambling, manifesto-like statement embedded with a series of photographs."
Mr Capus said the material was "hard-to-follow... disturbing, very disturbing - very angry, profanity-laced," but did not contain any images of Monday's shootings.Mr Capus said the material was "hard-to-follow... disturbing, very disturbing - very angry, profanity-laced," but did not contain any images of Monday's shootings.
However, Cho's written statements said "things like 'This didn't have to happen'," Mr Capus said. Student complaints
Two people were killed at the West Ambler Johnston Hall, a university dormitory, at 0715 on Monday.Two people were killed at the West Ambler Johnston Hall, a university dormitory, at 0715 on Monday.
Two hours later Cho killed 30 others, plus himself, at the Norris Hall complex across campus.Two hours later Cho killed 30 others, plus himself, at the Norris Hall complex across campus.
Student complaints
Authorities have not yet linked the 23-year-old to any of those he killed.Authorities have not yet linked the 23-year-old to any of those he killed.
Police say the same gun was used at both locations but have not definitely proved that Cho was at West Ambler Johnstone at the time of the shootings there.Police say the same gun was used at both locations but have not definitely proved that Cho was at West Ambler Johnstone at the time of the shootings there.
The complaints by students against Cho were made in November and December 2005, around the time Cho's English teachers raised concerns over his writing and general behaviour.The complaints by students against Cho were made in November and December 2005, around the time Cho's English teachers raised concerns over his writing and general behaviour.
In the aftermath of the shootings, teachers and fellow students have spoken of Cho's moods, violent writings and unpredictable behaviour. In the aftermath of the shootings, teachers and fellow students have spoken of Cho's extreme moods, violent writings and unpredictable behaviour.