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| Virginia failures 'must be fixed' | Virginia failures 'must be fixed' |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Key organisational failures that left Virginia Tech student Seung-hui Cho free to kill 32 people should never be repeated, Virginia's governor has said. | Key organisational failures that left Virginia Tech student Seung-hui Cho free to kill 32 people should never be repeated, Virginia's governor has said. |
| Tim Kaine lamented a series of "missed opportunities" that allowed Cho to remain at large despite serious concerns over his mental health. | Tim Kaine lamented a series of "missed opportunities" that allowed Cho to remain at large despite serious concerns over his mental health. |
| He spoke at the launch of a report that was critical of the emergency response to Cho's April rampage. | He spoke at the launch of a report that was critical of the emergency response to Cho's April rampage. |
| It says that lives may have been saved if college officials acted sooner. | It says that lives may have been saved if college officials acted sooner. |
| "Warning students, faculty and staff might have made a difference," the report says. | "Warning students, faculty and staff might have made a difference," the report says. |
| I think the communication system could have been better, we could have been alerted quicker and more effectively Kunal Namballa Virginia Tech student class="" href="/1/hi/talking_point/6971231.stm">More student reaction | |
| However, it did concede that while a lockdown might have helped protect some students and teachers it would probably have been ineffective in stopping Cho, who "had started on a mission of fulfilling a fantasy of revenge". | However, it did concede that while a lockdown might have helped protect some students and teachers it would probably have been ineffective in stopping Cho, who "had started on a mission of fulfilling a fantasy of revenge". |
| The independent eight-member panel also concluded that though Cho had shown earlier signs of mental instability, college staff had not intervened effectively. | The independent eight-member panel also concluded that though Cho had shown earlier signs of mental instability, college staff had not intervened effectively. |
| Cho killed 32 people and himself at the US university in April in the deadliest shooting spree in modern US history. | Cho killed 32 people and himself at the US university in April in the deadliest shooting spree in modern US history. |
| Poor communication | Poor communication |
| Mr Kaine, who commissioned the report, said a combination of poor college administration, inadequate mental health services and policing errors allowed Cho to live among the students he would eventually attack. | Mr Kaine, who commissioned the report, said a combination of poor college administration, inadequate mental health services and policing errors allowed Cho to live among the students he would eventually attack. |
| READ THE KEY FINDINGS Virginia Tech Report: Key findings [72 KB] Most computers will open this document automatically, but you may need Adobe Reader Download the reader here He expressed concern that other students with potentially dangerous mental health issues were living unmonitored on college campuses across the US. | READ THE KEY FINDINGS Virginia Tech Report: Key findings [72 KB] Most computers will open this document automatically, but you may need Adobe Reader Download the reader here He expressed concern that other students with potentially dangerous mental health issues were living unmonitored on college campuses across the US. |
| Describing Cho as "fixated" with violence, Mr Kaine said no record of the student's troubled personal history ever reached Virginia Tech authorities. | Describing Cho as "fixated" with violence, Mr Kaine said no record of the student's troubled personal history ever reached Virginia Tech authorities. |
| During the time Cho was at Virginia Tech a number of students had "interactions with him that were clearly indications he was troubled and needed assistance", Mr Kaine said. | During the time Cho was at Virginia Tech a number of students had "interactions with him that were clearly indications he was troubled and needed assistance", Mr Kaine said. |
| But, he added, no mechanism existed to deal with Cho's problems on campus. | But, he added, no mechanism existed to deal with Cho's problems on campus. |
| Mr Kaine also pointed to failures in the information flow within the mental health system, where Cho was once referred by court order. | Mr Kaine also pointed to failures in the information flow within the mental health system, where Cho was once referred by court order. |
| 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. |
| He was sent for evaluation after two female students made complaints against him, following a period of bizarre behaviour and concerns that he was suicidal. | He 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. |
| Frustration | Frustration |
| The panel also said officials should have issued an alert or cancelled classes after Cho shot his first two victims - Emily Hilscher and Ryan Clark - in a dormitory just after 0700 on 16 April. | The panel also said officials should have issued an alert or cancelled classes after Cho shot his first two victims - Emily Hilscher and Ryan Clark - in a dormitory just after 0700 on 16 April. |
| The 27 dead students were awarded posthumous degrees | The 27 dead students were awarded posthumous degrees |
| But Mr Kaine said campus police did not have adequate authority to take firm, quick action. | But Mr Kaine said campus police did not have adequate authority to take firm, quick action. |
| 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. |
| "There does not seem to be a plausible scenario of a university response to the double homicide that could have prevented the tragedy of considerable magnitude on April 16," the report said. | "There does not seem to be a plausible scenario of a university response to the double homicide that could have prevented the tragedy of considerable magnitude on April 16," the report said. |
| "There was much in the emergency response that was heroic. But there were also instances... that led to frustration," Mr Kaine said. | "There was much in the emergency response that was heroic. But there were also instances... that led to frustration," Mr Kaine said. |
| "What we have to do now is to challenge ourselves to study this report carefully, to make changes that will reduce the risk of future violence." | "What we have to do now is to challenge ourselves to study this report carefully, to make changes that will reduce the risk of future violence." |
| Were you affected by the shootings at Virginia Tech? What is your reaction to the report? Send us your comments by filling out the form below. | Were you affected by the shootings at Virginia Tech? What is your reaction to the report? Send us your comments by filling out the form below. |