C M Y K C M Y K

A Media General newspaper Tuesday, April 17, 2007 – Danville, Single copy 50 cents www.registerbee.com

Local alumni shocked, stunned by events — A9 PLUS photos, EXTENDED COVERAGE Experts say the emotional toll is only beginning — A7 graphics Three pages inside devoted to tragedy Dealing with ‘active shooters’ is a struggle — A6 and more ‘Scared to death’ Local parents, students try to process events

By SUSAN ELZEY ◆ Register & Bee staff writer

irginia Tech freshman Allison Coates called her mother Sunday night and wanted to V come home because of the two bomb threats she said the university had received in the past week. Her parents con- vinced her to stay an- registerbee.com other week until she would be picked up to ONLINE EXTRAS come home to Danville for a baby dedication. SPECIAL REPORT Coates’ mother, ➤ See full coverage Jewel, felt differently on online of Monday’s Monday after a shooter events and related sto- killed 33 people and ries, photos and video. wounded at least 28 on MESSAGE BOARD the school’s campus. ➤ Share your condo- “I’m scared to death,” lences and read what she said. “I always others have posted. prayed and asked God to WEB POLL lead us in the right di- ➤ Vote on whether or rection to lead her to the not Virginia Tech has right college for her life, the proper security on and I always felt like campus. this was where she was supposed to be. INSIDE “But then the first shooting happened and I OPINION was terrified. We didn’t ➤ Will ‘Virginia Tech’ get her then because we soon be a tragic buzz- thought the campus was word? — A8 safe again.” SPORTS Whether she returns ➤ Hokie athletes from to Virginia Tech in the the Danville area sad- fall will be Allison’s de- dened by tragedy in cision, her mother said, Blacksburg — B1 but she feels like her daughter will return to school even though “she’s very scared right now.” “She loves Virginia Tech, and the school isn’t do- ing this,” Jewel Coates said. “That’s a big decision she’ll have to make.”

‘I JUST STARTED BAWLING’ Allison first learned about what happened on campus when her mother called and woke her up to see if she was OK. “I remember waking up and I saw my mom’s call from the first time,” Allison said. “I thought I don’t have to be up for two more hours so I’m not going to answer it. Then she called again and I said, ‘Well, let me check to make sure everything is OK.’” That was the first Allison heard of the shooting happening close by. “It was my mother and she was like, ‘Are you OK?’ and I asked her why, what was wrong. All I remember was her saying something about a shoot- ing and West AJ, which is kinda close to my dorm.” Please see SCARED on A9

Mary Ellen Fowler hugs Virginia Tech freshman Matt Mala- gavi, a friend of her son Ryan, near Norris Hall, the site of a shooting on the in Blacksburg, on Monday. Mary Ellen and her husband drove down from Maryland to pick up their son, who was not injured in the attack, after they heard of the shootings.

photos by The TIMELINE OF SHOOTINGS Associated Press 7:15 a.m.: One person is killed in West Ambler Johnston Hall, reportedly on the fourth floor of the dormitory. In this photo 9:15 a.m.: Shooting occurs in several rooms of Norris Hall, a classroom building. provided by the 10:04 a.m.: The university encourages everyone to stay indoors and away from windows. , 10:20 a.m.: All classes for the day are canceled. Later, all Tuesday classes are canceled as well. ambulances wait 11:36 a.m.: The University Relations office reports one individual is in custody and police are searching for on the Virginia another. Tech campus in 12:18 p.m.: Virginia Tech Police Chief Wendell Flinchum says there are at least 20 fatalities in the morning’s Blacksburg fol- shootings. lowing multiple 12:20 p.m.: Virginia Tech President Charles W. Steger announces that the shooter has been killed. shootings on 12:22 p.m.: Twenty-two students are reported killed; 28 wounded, at least one in critical condition. Most of Monday. At least the casualties are reported to have been in Norris Hall. 33 people have About 1 p.m.: The Reuters news service reports the Tech situation is the worst series of shootings on a col- been reported lege campus since Charles Whitman went on a rampage. Shooting from a University of Texas tower, he killed killed. 15 and injured 31 in Austin in 1966. Sources: Collegiate Times.com, Roanoke.com, MSNBC, Richmond Times-Dispatch

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