Mass Shootings at Virginia Tech
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Mass Shootings at Virginia Tech April 16, 2007 Report of the Review Panel Presented to Governor Kaine Commonwealth of Virginia AUGUST 2007 DEDICATION The Virginia Tech Review Panel invited the families of the victims to lend their words as a dedication of this report. The panel is honored to share their words of love, remembrance, and strength. * * * We dedicate this report not solely to those who lost their lives at Virginia Tech on April 16, 2007, and to those physically and/or psychologically wounded on that dreadful morning, but also to every student, teacher, and institution of learning, that we may all safely fulfill our goals of learning, educating, and enriching humanity's stores of knowledge: the very arts and sciences that ennoble us.* "Love does not die, people do. So when all that is left of me is love… Give me away.…" – John Wayne Schlatter "This is the beginning of a new day. You have been given this day to use as you will. You can waste it or use it for good. What you do today is important because you are exchanging a day of your life for it. When tomorrow comes, this day will be gone forever; in its place is something that you have left behind…let it be something good." – Anonymous "We should consider every day lost on which we have not danced at least once. And we should call every truth false which was not accompanied by at least one laugh." – Friedrich Nietzsche "Unable are the loved to die, for Love is Immortality." – Emily Dickinson 32 candles burning bright for all to see, Lifting up the world for peace and harmony, Those of us who are drawn to the lights, enduringly embedded in our mind, indelibly ingrained on our heart, forever identifying our spirit, We call out your name: Erin, Ryan, Emily, Reema, Daniel, Matthew, Kevin, Brian, Jarrett, Austin, Henry, Liviu, Nicole, Julia, Lauren, Partahi, Jamie, Jeremy, Rachel, Caitlin, Maxine, Jocelyne, Leslie, Juan, Daniel, Ross, G.V., Mary, Matthew, Minal, Michael, Waleed, and, hold these truths ever so tight, your lives have great meaning, your lives have great power, your lives will never be forgotten, YOU will always be remembered, --never and always . – Pat Craig *Neither this dedication nor the use herein of the victims' photos or bios represents an endorsement of the report by the victims' families. Ross Abdullah Alameddine Brian Roy Bluhm Christopher James Bishop Hometown: Saugus, Massachusetts Hometown: Cedar Rapids, Iowa Residence in Blacksburg Sophomore, University Studies Masters student, Civil Engineering Instructor, Foreign Languages Student since fall 2005 Student since spring 2005 Joined Virginia Tech on Posthumous degree: Posthumous degree: August 10, 2005 Master of Science, Civil Engineering Bachelor of Arts, English Austin Michelle Cloyd Kevin P. Granata Ryan Christopher Clark Hometown: Blacksburg, Virginia Residence in Blacksburg Hometown: Martinez, Georgia Sophomore, Honors Program, Professor, Engineering Science and Senior, Psychology International Studies Mechanics Student since fall 2002 Student since fall 2006 Joined Virginia Tech on Posthumous degrees: Posthumous degrees: January 10, 2003 Bachelor of Science, Biological Bachelor of Arts, Foreign Sciences Languages/French Bachelor of Arts, English Bachelor of Arts, International Bachelor of Science, Psychology Studies Caitlin Millar Hammaren Jeremy Michael Herbstritt Hometown: Blacksburg, Virginia Matthew Gregory Gwaltney Hometown: Westtown, New York Sophomore, International Studies Masters student, Civil Engineering Hometown: Chesterfield, Virginia Student since fall 2006 Masters student, Environmental Student since fall 2005 Engineering Posthumous degree: Posthumous degree: Student since fall 2001 Bachelor of Arts, International Master of Science, Civil Engineering Studies Posthumous degree: Master of Science, Environmental Engineering Rachael Elizabeth Hill Emily Jane Hilscher Partahi Mamora Halomoan Hometown: Glen Allen, Virginia Hometown: Woodville, Virginia Lumbantoruan Freshman, University Studies Freshman, Animal and Poultry Hometown: Blacksburg, Virginia Student since fall 2006 Sciences (originally from Indonesia) Student since fall 2006 Posthumous degree: Ph.D. student, Civil Engineering Bachelor of Science, Biological Posthumous degree: Student since fall 2003 Sciences Bachelor of Science, Animal and Posthumous degree: Poultry Sciences Doctor of Philosophy, Civil Engineering Henry J. Lee Matthew Joseph La Porte Jarrett Lee Lane Hometown: Roanoke, Virginia Hometown: Dumont, New Jersey Hometown: Narrows, Virginia Sophomore, Computer Engineering Sophomore, University Studies Senior, Civil Engineering Student since fall 2006 Student since fall 2003 Student since fall 2005 Posthumous degree: Posthumous degree: Posthumous degree: Bachelor of Science, Computer Bachelor of Arts, Political Science Bachelor of Science, Civil Engineering Engineering Lauren Ashley McCain Liviu Librescu G. V. Loganathan Hometown: Hampton, Virginia Residence in Blacksburg Residence in Blacksburg Freshman, International Studies Professor, Engineering Science and Professor, Civil and Environmental Student since fall 2006 Mechanics Engineering Posthumous degree: Joined Virginia Tech on Joined Virginia Tech on Bachelor of Arts, International Studies September 1, 1985 December 16, 1981 Jocelyne Couture-Nowak Daniel Patrick O’Neil Juan Ramon Ortiz-Ortiz Residence in Blacksburg Hometown: Lincoln, Rhode Island Hometown: Blacksburg, Virginia Adjunct Professor, Foreign Masters student, Environmental Masters student, Civil Engineering Languages Engineering Student since fall 2006 Joined Virginia Tech on Student since fall 2006 Posthumous degree: August 10, 2001 Master of Science, Civil Engineering Posthumous degree: Master of Science, Environmental Engineering Minal Hiralal Panchal Daniel Alejandro Perez Erin Nicole Peterson Hometown: Mumbai, India Hometown: Woodbridge, Virginia Hometown: Centreville, Virginia Masters student, Architecture Sophomore, International Studies Freshman, International Studies Student since fall 2006 Student since summer 2006 Student since fall 2006 Posthumous degree: Posthumous degree: Posthumous degree: Master of Science, Architecture Bachelor of Arts, International Bachelor of Arts, International Studies Studies Mary Karen Read Michael Steven Pohle, Jr. Julia Kathleen Pryde Hometown: Annandale, Virginia Hometown: Flemington, New Hometown: Blacksburg, Virginia Freshman, Interdisciplinary Studies Jersey Masters student, Biological Student since fall 2006 Senior, Biological Sciences Systems Engineering Posthumous degree: Student since fall 2002 Student since fall 2001 Bachelor of Arts, Interdisciplinary Posthumous degree: Posthumous degree: Studies Bachelor of Science, Biological Master of Science, Biological Sciences Systems Engineering Reema Joseph Samaha Waleed Mohamed Shaalan Leslie Geraldine Sherman Hometown: Centreville, Virginia Hometown: Blacksburg, Virginia Hometown: Springfield, Virginia Freshman, University Studies (originally from Egypt) Junior, Honors Program, History Student since fall 2006 Ph.D. student, Civil Engineering Student since fall 2005 Student since fall 2006 Posthumous degrees: Posthumous degrees: Posthumous degree: Bachelor of Arts, History Bachelor of Arts, International Studies Bachelor of Arts, International Studies Bachelor of Arts, Public and Urban Doctor of Philosophy, Civil Affairs Engineering Maxine Shelly Turner Nicole Regina White Hometown: Vienna, Virginia Hometown: Smithfield, Virginia Senior, Honors Program, Chemical Sophomore, International Studies Engineering Student since fall 2004 Student since fall 2003 Posthumous degree: Bachelor of Arts, International Posthumous degree: Bachelor of Science, Chemical Engineering Studies MASS SHOOTINGS AT VIRGINIA TECH APRIL 16, 2007 Report of the Virginia Tech Review Panel Presented to Timothy M. Kaine, Governor Commonwealth of Virginia August 2007 CONTENTS FOREWORD...................................................................................................................... vii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ................................................................................................ ix SUMMARY OF FINDINGS .............................................................................................. 1 CHAPTER I. BACKGROUND AND SCOPE................................................................... 5 Scope……………………………………………………………………… .......................... 5 Methodology………………………………………………………………. ........................ 6 Findings and Recommendations…………………………………………… .................. 10 CHAPTER II. UNIVERSITY SETTING AND SECURITY............................................. 11 University Setting…………………………………………………………....................... 11 Campus Police and Other Local Law Enforcement.................................................. 11 Building Security…………………………………………………………......................... 13 Campus Alerting Systems………………………………………………… ..................... 14 Emergency Response Plan…………………………………………………..................... 15 Key Findings……………………………………………………………… ........................ 16 Recommendations………………………………………………………… ....................... 17 CHAPTER III. TIMELINE OF EVENTS………………………………………................... 21 Pre-Incidents: Cho’s History...................................................................................... 21 The Incidents.............................................................................................................. 24 Post-Incidents............................................................................................................