Virginia Tech massacre: NBC receives material from killer

[azskyman]

Jackson, thanks for sharing your story and letting us know you are personally okay. Mostly, thanks for packaging up that "Hokie Hope" and carrying it on your shoulders even during these darkest hours.

There will be more trials and burdens to carry as some gather to place blame, assign levels of responsiblity, and in other ways have to make sense of the senseless. And that will go on for a long long time. But let it be known that you, our friend and comrade here at S2k, can come here unafraid in search of strength when you want to; need to. Those like Duckie and others stand ready to help turn time and your vigil into a triumph of spirit.

Your governor saw light in who you are. And so do we.

Bless all of you who have forever been personally affected by the events of a single day.

And bless Duckie as always for her compassion and outreach.

[Brent]

BLACKSBURG, Va. - The gunman involved in the deadliest shooting in modern U.S. history had previously been accused of stalking two female student and had been taken to a mental health facility in 2005, but no charges were filed, police said Wednesday.

Cho Seung-Hui worried one woman enough with his calls and e-mail in 2005 that police were called in, said Police Chief Wendell Flinchum.

He said the woman declined to press charges and Cho was referred to the university disciplinary system. The case was then outside the scope of the police department, he said.

[Chacor]

The press conference also confirmed that the two women who made formal complaints are not among the victims.

[Ptarmigan]

I can't put in to words how much the support of everyone here and around the country means to myself and the rest of us here in Blacksburg. To be contacted, through a YouTube account no less, by a fellow storm2k user (GalvestonDuck) is a testament to the extraordinary quality of this community. As for myself, I was outside Norris Hall when the shootings began, fortunate not to be inside it. A quick sprint across campus to get out of harm's way and I came through unharmed. However, I wish I could say the same for 32 others, many of whom we knew well. I'm sure the families of these victims would appreciate your thoughts and prayers as they will need all the support they can receive.

I would hope that, in the midst of wall-to-wall media coverage of the tragedy that occured, everyone would take a look at the community that I'm proud to be a part of. One of the greatest fears that all of us have, is that our school will forever be known as "that college where the worst shooting in US history occured." I may be biased, but I can think of no other university community that carries itself with such pride and spirit. We have never been more proud to call ourselves Hokies and hope that the world will come to see us as a college of unity, not one of catastrophe.

Lastly, as classes have been cancelled for the rest of the week, I'll be heading home to Winchester to spend time with family and friends. I don't consider myself a theologian, nor an articulate salesman of life lessons, but if there is anything I have learned over the past two days, it's that every moment in life is important and should be cherished by all, for one can never know when his/her number will come up. I can only hope that the 32 classmates of mine who were lost have moved on to a place of peace. As for all us Hokies, I pray that we can find our own.

With many thanks,
Jackson P. (Fodie77)
Virginia Tech Class of 2009

I am glad your safe. I am very sorry to hear about what happened at your college. It's really horrible.

[wxmann_91]

I can't put in to words how much the support of everyone here and around the country means to myself and the rest of us here in Blacksburg. To be contacted, through a YouTube account no less, by a fellow storm2k user (GalvestonDuck) is a testament to the extraordinary quality of this community. As for myself, I was outside Norris Hall when the shootings began, fortunate not to be inside it. A quick sprint across campus to get out of harm's way and I came through unharmed. However, I wish I could say the same for 32 others, many of whom we knew well. I'm sure the families of these victims would appreciate your thoughts and prayers as they will need all the support they can receive.

I would hope that, in the midst of wall-to-wall media coverage of the tragedy that occured, everyone would take a look at the community that I'm proud to be a part of. One of the greatest fears that all of us have, is that our school will forever be known as "that college where the worst shooting in US history occured." I may be biased, but I can think of no other university community that carries itself with such pride and spirit. We have never been more proud to call ourselves Hokies and hope that the world will come to see us as a college of unity, not one of catastrophe.

Lastly, as classes have been cancelled for the rest of the week, I'll be heading home to Winchester to spend time with family and friends. I don't consider myself a theologian, nor an articulate salesman of life lessons, but if there is anything I have learned over the past two days, it's that every moment in life is important and should be cherished by all, for one can never know when his/her number will come up. I can only hope that the 32 classmates of mine who were lost have moved on to a place of peace. As for all us Hokies, I pray that we can find our own.

With many thanks,
Jackson P. (Fodie77)
Virginia Tech Class of 2009

Great post... and I am so glad you're safe. It is times like these in which the country is unified, and if there is one thing we can thank out of tragedies like these, it is a greater unity and spirit of the people, and a greater appreciation for the fragility of life.

[Brent]

IN DECEMBER 2005, A VIRGINIA COURT FOUND VT KILLER SEUNG CHO 'MENTALLY ILL' AND 'AN IMMINENT DANGER TO OTHERS'

http://www.abcnews.com

A Virginia court found that Virginia Tech killer Seung-Hui Cho was "mentally ill" and dangerous. Then it let him go.

[Brent]

University of Minnesota:

Notice: Seven buildings on the East Bank campus have been evacuated due to a bomb threat. They include: Kohltoff, Appleby, Smith, Frasier, Johnston and Morrill Halls as well as Walter Library and the Science Classroom Building. All classes and meetings in these buildings have been canceled for the remainder of the day. Students are asked to return to their residence halls or their off-campus housing. Please do not congregate in the Mall area.

[cycloneye]

Sadly,now the copy cats are doing their thing.

[Brent]

WOW.

NBC News is reporting it recieved material from the killer apparently mailed between the 1st and 2nd shooting today! Hmmmm....

[Brent]

Gunman contacted NBC News during massacre
Rambling communication, video being examined by FBI, network says
BREAKING NEWS
By Alex Johnson
MSNBC
Updated: 9 minutes ago

BLACKSBURG, Va. -

Sometime after he killed two people in a dormitory but before he slaughtered 30 more in a classroom building Monday morning, Cho Seung-Hui sent NBC News a rambling communication and videos about his grievances, the network said Wednesday.

Network officials turned the material over to the FBI and said they would not immediately disclose its contents pending the agency’s review beyond characterizing the material as “disturbing.” It included a written communication, photographs and video.

[Opal storm]

That picture of him gives me the chills every time I see it.

[Brent]

NBC Nightly News is going to show portions of what he sent tonight... 6:30pm ET/5:30pm Central.

[Stratosphere747]

If NBC/Brian Williams gives this worthless POS a second of national airtime. *Censored*

Sadly many will be glued to the TV, and rationalize along with NBC that there is a need to air this so called "news".

[JTD]

Breaking news from MSNBC.com:

At least two people shot at University of Missouri

[dizzyfish]

WHAT? Oh Lord......not again.

[GalvestonDuck]

If NBC/Brian Williams gives this worthless POS a second of national airtime. *Censored*

Sadly many will be glued to the TV, and rationalize along with NBC that there is a need to air this so called "news".

Why not show it? I'm interested to know if he shared anything that will help us understand what set him off.

Was he a worthless POS on Sunday? On Saturday? Last year? Five years ago? If he was a worthless POS because of what happened Monday, could someone have stopped him and helped him feel like his life was worthwhile?

I'm not trying to defend or justify what he said. But I've said it before and I'll say it again -- I believe people can become dangerous to themselves and to others when they begin living "between their ears"...only replaying negative thoughts and delusions over and over in their own brains and not communicating their troubles with others.

At the risk of sounding conceited, I believe we need to realize how much we affect other people's lives when we pay attention to them and listen...and even more when we don't.

I'm amazed that someone could make it through four years of college without communicating much, if at all, with anyone. Usually classroom participation counts as some part of a final grade, doesn't it? Isn't that taking "getting by under the radar" to an extreme?

[Brent]

If NBC/Brian Williams gives this worthless POS a second of national airtime. *Censored*

Sadly many will be glued to the TV, and rationalize along with NBC that there is a need to air this so called "news".

Why not show it? I'm interested to know if he shared anything that will help us understand what set him off.

Was he a worthless POS on Sunday? On Saturday? Last year? Five years ago? If he was a worthless POS because of what happened Monday, could someone have stopped him and helped him feel like his life was worthwhile?

I'm not trying to defend or justify what he said. But I've said it before and I'll say it again -- I believe people can become dangerous to themselves and to others when they begin living "between their ears"...only replaying negative thoughts and delusions over and over in their own brains and not communicating their troubles with others.

At the risk of sounding conceited, I believe we need to realize how much we affect other people's lives when we pay attention to them and listen...and even more when we don't.

I'm amazed that someone could make it through four years of college without communicating much, if at all, with anyone. Usually classroom participation counts as some part of a final grade, doesn't it? Isn't that taking "getting by under the radar" to an extreme?

I totally agree, and I'll be watching intently. These new developments this afternoon are fascinating(and I was starting to think the story was calming down).

[GalvestonDuck]

Breaking news from MSNBC.com:

At least two people shot at University of Missouri

Near UM-C, but not on campus.

http://www.kctv.com/global/story.asp?s=6389754

[x-y-no]

NBC Nightly News is going to show portions of what he sent tonight... 6:30pm ET/5:30pm Central.

I'm of two minds regarding airing this video. On the one hand, it may be valuable information about what set this guy off. On the other hand, it sends a message to others out there who may be contemplating something like this that they can get a message out nationally that way.

[Stratosphere747]

If NBC/Brian Williams gives this worthless POS a second of national airtime. *Censored*

Sadly many will be glued to the TV, and rationalize along with NBC that there is a need to air this so called "news".

Why not show it? I'm interested to know if he shared anything that will help us understand what set him off.

Was he a worthless POS on Sunday? On Saturday? Last year? Five years ago? If he was a worthless POS because of what happened Monday, could someone have stopped him and helped him feel like his life was worthwhile?

I'm not trying to defend or justify what he said. But I've said it before and I'll say it again -- I believe people can become dangerous to themselves and to others when they begin living "between their ears"...only replaying negative thoughts and delusions over and over in their own brains and not communicating their troubles with others.

At the risk of sounding conceited, I believe we need to realize how much we affect other people's lives when we pay attention to them and listen...and even more when we don't.

I'm amazed that someone could make it through four years of college without communicating much, if at all, with anyone. Usually classroom participation counts as some part of a final grade, doesn't it? Isn't that taking "getting by under the radar" to an extreme?

GDuck,

No question that what he has purportedly said on the tape, along with his writings are very significant to understand his mindset and will no doubt help those qualified to better understand his illness. Which in turn will hopefully give us better insight to identify such people in the future.

NBC/Brian Williams could care less, quite frankly. This is nothing more than "breaking" a story. Why the wait? They have copies of what was sent to them. Why not air it now, immediately, instead of marketing this for BW and the 5:30 broadcast....