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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Virginia Tech response 'too slow' | Virginia Tech response 'too slow' |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Virginia Tech officials might have saved lives if they had acted sooner after the first shootings by student Cho Seung-hui, a state report says. | |
| "Warning students, faculty and staff might have made a difference," it says. | |
| The independent panel said although Cho had earlier demonstrated signs of mental instability, the university had not intervened effectively. | The independent panel said although Cho had earlier demonstrated signs of mental instability, the university had not intervened effectively. |
| Cho killed 32 people and himself at the US university in April in the deadliest shooting rampage in modern US history. | Cho killed 32 people and himself at the US university in April in the deadliest shooting rampage in modern US history. |
| The eight-member panel, appointed by Virginia governor Tim Kaine, said officials should have issued an alert or cancelled classes after Cho shot his first two victims in a dormitory just after 0700 on 16 April. | The eight-member panel, appointed by Virginia governor Tim Kaine, said officials should have issued an alert or cancelled classes after Cho shot his first two victims in a dormitory just after 0700 on 16 April. |
| More than two hours later Cho killed 30 students and teachers, plus himself, at the Norris Hall complex in another area of the campus. | More than two hours later Cho killed 30 students and teachers, plus himself, at the Norris Hall complex in another area of the campus. |
| At 0926 the university sent an e-mail to students and staff warning of a "shooting on campus" and urging caution. | At 0926 the university sent an e-mail to students and staff warning of a "shooting on campus" and urging caution. |
| However, while a lockdown might have helped protect some students and teachers it would have likely been ineffective in stopping Cho, who "had started on a mission of fulfilling a fantasy of revenge", the report said. | However, while a lockdown might have helped protect some students and teachers it would have likely been ineffective in stopping Cho, who "had started on a mission of fulfilling a fantasy of revenge", the report said. |
| "From what we know of his mental state and commitment to action that day, it was likely that he would have acted out his fantasy somewhere on campus or outside it that same day," the report said. | "From what we know of his mental state and commitment to action that day, it was likely that he would have acted out his fantasy somewhere on campus or outside it that same day," the report said. |
| Information gap | Information gap |
| Police were aware that Cho, who moved to the US with his family from South Korea in 1992, had been admitted to a mental health unit in late 2005. | Police were aware that Cho, who moved to the US with his family from South Korea in 1992, had been admitted to a mental health unit in late 2005. |
| The 27 dead students were awarded posthumous degreesHe was sent for evaluation after two female students made complaints against him, following a period of bizarre behaviour and concerns that he was suicidal. | The 27 dead students were awarded posthumous degreesHe was sent for evaluation after two female students made complaints against him, following a period of bizarre behaviour and concerns that he was suicidal. |
| But the information was never passed on to university officials because of a lack of resources, misinterpretation of privacy laws and passivity, the report said. | But the information was never passed on to university officials because of a lack of resources, misinterpretation of privacy laws and passivity, the report said. |
| In the lull between killings, Cho sent a package to US network NBC containing 28 video clips, 1,800 words of text and 43 photos, 11 of them showing Cho aiming handguns at a camera. | In the lull between killings, Cho sent a package to US network NBC containing 28 video clips, 1,800 words of text and 43 photos, 11 of them showing Cho aiming handguns at a camera. |
| Although his motives remained unclear, the report traced his fantasies to the 1999 shootings at Columbine High School in Colorado, in which two students killed 13 people. | Although his motives remained unclear, the report traced his fantasies to the 1999 shootings at Columbine High School in Colorado, in which two students killed 13 people. |
| The state governor said the purpose of the inquiry was not seek to lay blame, but ensure that such a tragedy could not happen again. | The state governor said the purpose of the inquiry was not seek to lay blame, but ensure that such a tragedy could not happen again. |