Starting Over Talk - Peer Coaching Support Site

I certainly hope none of the people you know were harmed at the school. There seems to be many questions about the manner the incident was handled.

I have heard the shooter was killed. You have to wonder what would make someone want to hurt all those people. In 1995, a UNC (Chapel Hill, NC) third year law student, opened fire with an assault rifle on a public street near campus, killing 2 people and injuring more. He had been under serious psychiatric care. He was found not guilty by reason of insaniety.

I think there was an argument made that the psychiatrist failed to properly treat the patient and that he should have recognized how dangerous he was and had him committed. It really causes you to think how vulnerable we all are.

OMG.............

Soooooooo incredibly sad!!! I'm so sorry.........prayers going out major time!!!

I know colleges and universities don't have the safety procedures that our elementary, middle and high schools do. Don't know why.......I sure hope this opens up some dialog about this!!

Keep us posted with new info if you get any!!

I am quite worried now. I have not heard anything from my dear friend. I sent an e-mail yesterday to make sure her son was okay. We just exchanged e-mails last week and she usually responds back quickly. I just hope she is out of town or she is busy with so many people contacting her to check on her son. If I haven't heard from her by noon, I'm going to try to call her.

I heard what I think was a local ATF (Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms) officer on our local radio this morning. He didn't say how he knew these things but was reporting some details I had not herad on the main news.

He said the gunman had a cell phone with him and had attempted or actually made phone calls before or during the shootings. He refused to say who he was calling. He said that the shooter had plenty of amunition left when he killed himself. He said that the type of weapons he used are more for wounding than killing and you have to shoot someone multiple times at close range to kill them, which is what the gunman did.

Has anyone else heard this anywhere else. The officer was saying things like I'm telling you what I can but not so much as to get me in trouble. I'm not sure if he was legit or not.

Just a brief update...

My son has 4 housemates, all of whom are VT alumni.. One roommate does know a number of people affected. They still have many names that need to be released. So far I've seen several from the Northern Va. area including the gunmen.

My daughter who attends another university here in Va. did let me know today that a high school classmate of hers from our community was wounded in the hand.. If that is the closest the tragedy hits our family, I will be considering ourselves blessed.

Several of the students that I do know, they are children of fellow members of our church.. So I think if there was an immediate concern for them...I would have heard by now.

I will be praying that Debbie's friend's child is ok!

Some of the stories coming out today are heart wrenching..

The convocation is scheduled to begin within the hour.. I think it might be televised. Tonight there is a candlelight vigil scheduled to be held on the drill field.. They expect 40,000 people, students, alumni and faculty. I'm sure the 11:00 news will be highlighting both events.

The school is in the process of beginning the healing process!
Thanks for your continued prayers!

I just got word from my friend that her son attends James Madison University, not VA Tech. I am so relieved. Of course she is concerned with her son being so far away and on any campus right now.

I made myself come to work today. I just wanted to sit and cry.
I went by a local coffee hangout to get coffee this morning and everyone was sitting silent and sad. Many were staring into their computers as if in disbelief. Nobody in the shop said a word except for the man taking my order. It was unreal.

I'm very touched by the many forms of support the school's community and victims families are receiving.

I hope that the deaths of those 30 some odd deaths will not have been in vain... Even the gunman's family needs compassion right now..

If every other campus in this country contemplated a similar scenario befalling them and how they might handle it.. then it will at least be an opportunity to have learned from VT's story.

If nothing else, I think we are all smacked with the sense of the brevity of life... and how quickly circumstances can change..