Massacre at Virginia Tech

[aexchange]

incredibly sad. i just pray for everyone impacted by this.

[Dr.Zoidberg]

Despite the dreadfull massacre, we all can be happy that this doesn´t turn out even worse.

Here a Link to protocolls of the police, in which the objects are listed they found in his room: http://i.a.cnn.net/cnn/2007/images/04/17/warrant.pdf

So everything looks like he also was the perpetrator of the former bomb threats at Virginia Tech. I don´t want to imagine what would have happened if he would have constructed a bomb successfully. He definitely was a sicker madman.

[Dr.Zoidberg]

Cho had exhibited "big warning signs": http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/04/18/vte...ing/index.html

Police referred Cho for counseling in 2005

POSTED: 10:34 a.m. EDT, April 18, 2007


BLACKSBURG, Virginia (CNN) -- Cho Seung Hui was referred to a mental health facility in 2005 after police, responding to accusations that he was suicidal and having inappropriate contact with female students, asked him to see a counselor, police said Wednesday.

University police Chief Wendell Flinchum did not have many details, but said no charges were filed against Cho after the November and December 2005 investigations into his communications with female students.
"The student declined to press charges and referred to Cho's contact with her as annoying," Flinchum said of the November investigation.

As tales of Cho Seung-Hui's worrisome behavior continued to surface Wednesday, a renowned poet and author who taught the 23-year-old suspected gunman called the notion that he was troubled "crap" and said he was downright "mean."

Nikki Giovanni was in San Francisco, California, getting ready to fly home to Blacksburg when she heard the news Monday that 32 students were killed in separate shooting incidents on the Virginia Tech campus.
"I knew when it happened that that's probably who it was," Giovanni said, referring to her former pupil. "I would have been shocked if it wasn't."

Though Giovanni, another professor, Cho's former roommates and a classmate all recall Cho behaving in a disturbing manner -- and authorities confirm he was investigated after being accused of stalking a woman -- there was nothing criminal about his demeanor. (Classmates called Cho "question mark kid")

In fact, university police Chief Wendell Flinchum said his department had no clue that Cho posed a threat to anyone.

"We're exploring all those things right now as we do our investigation to try and determine why and what triggers the incident. But we weren't aware of that before," Flinchum said.

The university and its police have been the target of criticism from students who felt they weren't adequately warned about Cho -- even after two people were killed in a dormitory early Monday morning.
Though police have linked a gun used in Norris Hall -- where 31 people, including Cho, died -- they have yet to say he is officially accused of the first shootings.

The university has defended its response to the first shooting, which police were reportedly still investigating when gunshots erupted in Norris Hall -- more than two hours after police were called to the dorm.

Flinchum said Wednesday that details gleaned from the investigation at the West Ambler Johnston dorm led to a decision among university officials and police that the campus did not need to be locked down.
"There is a lot of details we were providing to the administration and a decision was made based on that information," the chief said.

University President Charles Steger has said police believed the incident was "a domestic fight, perhaps a murder-suicide" that was contained to one dorm room.
Police cordoned off the 895-student dorm and all residents were told about the shooting as police looked for witnesses, Steger said.

"I don't think anyone could have predicted that another event was going to take place two hours later," Steger said.

'Something mean about this boy'

Though there was nothing criminal about Cho's behavior -- he easily passed a background check, according to the store owner who sold him one of the guns -- his actions did concern some students and faculty members. (Watch dealer recount selling weapon to Cho )

Cho's poetry was so intimidating -- and his behavior so menacing -- that Giovanni had him removed from her class in the fall of 2005, she said. Giovanni said the final straw came when two of her students quit attending her poetry sessions because of Cho.

"I was trying to find out, what am I doing wrong here?" Giovanni recalled thinking, but the students came to her during her office hours and explained, "He's taking photographs of us. We don't know what he's doing."

Giovanni went to the department's then-chairwoman, Lucinda Roy, and told her she wanted Cho out of her class, and Roy obliged.

"I was willing to resign before I was going to continue with him," Giovanni said. "There was something mean about this boy."

Giovanni said she's taught her share of oddballs in the past, but there was something malicious about Cho's behavior.

"I know we're talking about a troubled youngster and crap like that, but troubled youngsters get drunk and jump off buildings; troubled youngsters drink and drive," she said. "I've taught troubled youngsters. I've taught crazy people. It was the meanness that bothered me. It was a, really, mean streak."

Giovanni's account came Wednesday as Roy and Cho's former roommates shared stories about the resident alien from South Korea now accused of exacting the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history.
Authorities also confirmed that Cho was investigated last year for stalking a woman in person and by e-mail.

Roy, who taught Cho one-on-one after removing him from Giovanni's class, recalled Cho exhibiting a palpable anger and secretly taking photographs of other students while holding the camera under his desk. (Watch the professor tell how her student frightened her )

His writings were so disturbing, she said, that she went to the police and university administrators for help.

"The threats seemed to be underneath the surface," she said. "They were not explicit and that was the difficulty the police had."

Ian McFarlane, who had class with Cho, said two plays written by Cho were so "twisted" that McFarlane and other students openly pondered "whether he could be a school shooter." (Read MacFarlane's blog and the two plays)

Cho's roommates, who asked to be identified only as Andy and John, had similar accounts. Andy recalled police coming to the dormitory to investigate Cho's involvement with a female students and when Andy told police that Cho had spoken of suicide, "they took him away to the counseling center for a night or two."

In retrospect, Cho had exhibited "big warning signs," Andy said. But he was so quiet, the roommate said, "he was just like a shadow." (Watch Cho's roommates describe his "crazy" behavior )

Authorities are still investigating whether Cho had any accomplices in planning or executing Monday's rampage, Flaherty said.

Cho, who moved to the United States at age 8, lived at the university's Harper Hall, Flinchum said.
"He was a loner, and we're having difficulty finding information about him," said Larry Hincker, associate vice president for university relations.

[Dr.Zoidberg]

Cho was absolutely loopy: http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/04/19/vte...ing/index.html

Campus killer spews venom in posthumous messages

POSTED: 5:08 a.m. EDT, April 19, 2007

Story Highlights

• NEW: Female survivor: "I don't think he was a man at all"
• Cho Seung-Hui sent 1,800-word manifesto, photos and videos to NBC
• Cho apparently mailed package between the two shootings
• Virginia special justice in 2005 declared Cho mentally ill





BLACKSBURG, Virginia (CNN) -- Cho Seung-Hui returned in video form to terrorize members of the Virginia Tech community still reeling from his deadly shooting rampage, painting himself as a persecuted martyr in a rambling and paranoid multimedia message.

The campus shooting spree left 33 people dead, including Cho, who took his own life.
In a videotaped message he mailed to NBC, Cho said Monday's massacre could have been avoided.
"You forced me into a corner and gave me only one option," he said.

One student who said she survived Cho's rampage in her German class by pretending to be dead called the images "really sick" and said he appeared to be "trying to create this image of fear."

"I don't think he was a man at all, if he hadn't been holding that gun," Erin Sheehan told CNN. (Watch Sheehan's reaction when viewing the images for the first time)

NBC News reported that Cho mailed the package at 9:01 a.m. Monday -- during the two hours between the shootings at the West Ambler Johnston Hall dormitory and Norris Hall.

"You had a hundred billion chances and ways to have avoided today," Cho said in one of the videos that aired Wednesday night on NBC. (Watch Cho's menacing last messages )

A student who said he lived with Cho for the past nine months said he was "totally surprised" by the videos.

"He never showed any interest in having a conversation with anybody," Karan Grewal told CNN.
Cho spoke about the shootings in the past tense, but it is unclear when the video messages were recorded. (Read more of Cho's comments)

Cho also discussed "martyrs like Eric and Dylan," MSNBC.com reported. He was apparently referring to Columbine High School gunmen Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold, who in 1999 killed 13 people and themselves in Littleton, Colorado.

Experts said the paranoid delusions evident in the messages were typical of mass murderers, and they advised vigilance for warning signs from others who could be emboldened by media coverage of Cho's messages.

"These individuals feel out of control. They feel like they're victims, and they want to get even by taking charge," said criminologist James Alan Fox.

Cho railed against the wealthy and other unnamed enemies in the angry messages.

"All your debaucheries weren't enough," he says in the video. (Gallery: Images in Cho's manifesto)
The package included an 1,800 word statement and 27 QuickTime videos showing Cho talking to the camera and discussing religion and his hatred of the wealthy, MSNBC.com reported.

The package was sent by overnight mail, but did not arrive until Wednesday because the address and ZIP code were wrong. (Watch what the name on the package -- Ax Ishmael -- could mean )

"This may be a very new critical component of this investigation," State Police Col. Steve Flaherty said.
When the network received the package, it immediately notified authorities and the original documents were sent to the FBI for analysis, Flaherty said.

Patrons watch media coverage of Cho Seung-Hui's multimedia manifesto at a restaurant in Blacksburg, Virginia.

'Imminent danger'

In 2005, Cho was declared mentally ill by a Virginia special justice, who declared he was "an imminent danger" to himself, a court document states.

Cho was evaluated at a mental health facility after a student rejected his attempts at establishing contact with her, Virginia Tech Police Chief Wendell Flinchum told reporters Wednesday.

Authorities had been told Cho might be suicidal, Flinchum said, but in the certification and order for involuntary admission to a mental health facility, Special Justice Paul Barnett wrote that while Cho's mood was "depressed," "he denies suicidal ideation."

"The alternatives to involuntary hospitalization and treatment were investigated and deemed suitable," Barnett wrote. Barnett ordered Cho to follow "recommended treatments" on an outpatient basis.

But that evaluation was the culmination of a fall semester that saw one professor threaten to resign if Cho remained in her class, another alert university authorities about the disturbing nature of his writings and calls to police from women who said Cho was stalking them. (Watch what made Cho creepy )

University stands by handling of shooting

As tales of Cho's worrisome behavior continued to surface Wednesday, a renowned poet and author who taught the 23-year-old gunman said she had threatened to resign if he wasn't removed from her class.
"I just didn't think he was disturbed as we would normally think of a kid as disturbed. I thought he was mean," Nikki Giovanni said.

She immediately suspected Cho when she got word of the shootings. "I would have been shocked if it wasn't." Giovanni said. (Killer a self-described 'question mark')

Ian MacFarlane, who had class with Cho, said two plays written by Cho were so "twisted" that MacFarlane and other students openly pondered "whether he could be a school shooter." (Read MacFarlane's blog and the two plays)

Despite the warning signs, officials said there was nothing criminal about Cho's demeanor. Asked about concerns raised by then-department chairwoman Lucinda Roy, Flinchum said no official report was filed.
"No criminal violation had taken place," the chief said.

Flinchum's remarks were the latest in the university's defense, not only of its handling of situations that arose before the shootings, but also of how it handled the immediate aftermath of two shooting deaths at West Ambler Johnston dorm.

Though police have linked a gun used in Norris Hall -- where 31 people, including Cho, died -- they have yet to say he is officially accused of the first shootings. (Learn more about those killed in the rampage)
The recurring question: Why weren't students warned or the campus locked down before Cho was able to walk into Norris Hall more than two hours later and exact the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history? (Watch how Cho trapped victims in Norris Hall )

Flinchum said Wednesday that details gleaned from the investigation at the dorm led to a decision among university officials and police that the campus did not need to be locked down.

University President Charles Steger has said police believed the incident was "a domestic fight, perhaps a murder-suicide" that was contained to one dorm room.

Students angered, disgusted by gunman's manifesto

POSTED: 12:00 p.m. EDT, April 19, 2007

Story Highlights

• NEW: Great-aunt says gunman was "cold," diagnosed with autism years ago
• NEW: Virginia Tech will award degrees to slain students, provost says
• Student says one video might have been filmed in dorm common area
• Cho Seung-Hui sent 1,800-word manifesto, photos and videos to NBC

BLACKSBURG, Virginia (CNN) -- Virginia Tech students reacted with disgust, anger, shock and fear Thursday to the paranoid multimedia manifesto that student gunman Cho Seung-Hui mailed the morning of his Monday killing spree.


NBC News announced Wednesday night that it had received a package from Cho containing photos, 27 videos and an 1,800-word diatribe.


The package was mailed after two people were killed at a dormitory early Monday and before Cho entered the university's Norris Hall and exacted the worst mass shooting by a lone gunman in U.S. history. (Watch Cho's menacing last messages )


Doctoral student Ken Stanton, 29, said he resented that Cho was getting airtime while many of the victims, such as his friend Jeremy Herbstritt, remained anonymous.


"I'm sick of it," he said. It's like you can't get away from it -- every time I walk by a TV, there it is."
Stanton vowed to try to appear on as many news shows as possible.


"My focus now is getting on TV and taking time away from [Cho]," he said. "Every minute I can get on is one less minute he'll be on." (Read more about Herbstritt)


Karan Grewal, who once shared a dorm suite with Cho, said one video appears to have been filmed in a common area of the dormitory.


"It's just a scary feeling that maybe he was sitting out there the entire year trying to figure out our schedules so he could make these videos," Grewal said.


Junior Kristy Venning told The Associated Press that she "just got chills" when she first saw his photo on television.


"It shows he put so much thought into this, and I think it's sick," she told the AP.
It was frightening enough that the 26,000-pupil school fell victim to a gunman who mercilessly unloaded the magazines of his semiautomatic pistols into students and faculty members, killing 30 at Norris before killing himself.


But for some students, Cho's manifesto made the tragedy even more terrifying. (Watch what the name on the package -- Ax Ishmael -- could mean )


"It was absolutely terrible. For someone to purposely know what they were going to do to our school and the community, there's no words for it," said sophomore Britney Rockwell, holding back tears.

Fury at media

The reaction of others was anger, not only at Cho for meticulously premeditating his rampage, but also at the media for airing his last recorded words and images.


Meredith Vieira, co-host of NBC's "Today" show, said some victims' relatives had canceled interviews with the network "because they were very upset with NBC for airing the images," the AP reported.


Robert Bowman, managing editor of the school newspaper, told CNN that he was conflicted: As a journalist, he wants to disseminate information, but as a student, he'd prefer that the tapes weren't released.


"It's difficult to tell what we want to uncover and what we don't want to uncover, but of course with the Collegiate Times our main goal is getting the information out there," Bowman said.


Col. Steven Flaherty of the Virginia State Police said Wednesday that he had hoped the package would contain new clues about Cho's motive and crime, but after reviewing the content, investigators found it "simply confirmed what we already knew."


Flaherty also said he appreciated NBC cooperating with authorities but said he was disconcerted that the videos and images were aired.


"We're rather disappointed in the editorial decision to broadcast these disturbing images," he said. "I'm sorry that you all were exposed to these images."


Flaherty spoke at a news conference in which university Provost Mark G. McNamee announced that the slain students will be awarded honorary degrees.

Package's disturbing contents

Cho discusses religion, paints himself as a persecuted martyr and rails against unnamed enemies in some of the 27 videos he mailed to the network. It is unclear at whom he is directing his ire, but he makes clear his aversion to the wealthy.


"You had everything you wanted," Cho says in one video, speaking directly into the camera. "Your Mercedes wasn't enough, you brats. Your golden necklaces weren't enough, you snobs. Your trust fund wasn't enough. Your vodka and cognac weren't enough. All your debaucheries weren't enough. Those weren't enough to fulfill your hedonistic needs. You had everything."


The package also contained several photos of Cho pointing guns, a hammer and a knife at the camera, others in which he holds a gun to his head and a knife to his throat and a few in which he looks like an ordinary college student. (Gallery: Images in Cho's manifesto)


NBC said the package was postmarked at 9:01 a.m., during the two hours between the shootings at the West Ambler Johnston dormitory and Norris Hall.


"You forced me into a corner and gave me only one option," he said on one of the videos. "You had a hundred billion chances and ways to have avoided today."


One student who said she survived Cho's rampage in her German class by pretending to be dead called the images "really sick" and said he appeared to be "trying to create this image of fear."


"I don't think he was a man at all, if he hadn't been holding that gun," Erin Sheehan said. (Watch Sheehan's reaction when viewing the images for the first time )


Grewal said the videos demonstrated that Cho was "just a scary person."
"Until now I just thought he was really shy and reserved," Grewal said. "But it seems like now he was trying to fool us, trying to put on an act to hide what he was planning the entire year."
Cho spoke about the shootings in the past tense, but it is unclear when the video messages were recorded. (Read more of Cho's comments)


Cho also discussed "martyrs like Eric and Dylan," MSNBC.com reported, apparently referring to Columbine High School gunmen Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold.


The package was sent by overnight mail but didn't arrive until Wednesday because the address and ZIP code were wrong.

Cho declared 'imminent danger'

Experts said the delusions evident in the messages were typical of mass murderers, and they advised people to be on the lookout for warning signs from others who could be emboldened by the coverage.
"These individuals feel out of control. They feel like they're victims, and they want to get even by taking charge," said criminologist James Alan Fox.


In 2005, Cho was declared mentally ill by a Virginia special justice, who found he was "an imminent danger" to himself, a court document states.


Cho's great-aunt, Kim Yang-soon, said Cho was diagnosed with autism after coming to U.S. in 1992. Speaking from her home in South Korea, she described Cho as "very cold" and said her niece was constantly worried about him.


"Every time I called and asked how he was, she would say she was worried about him," Kim said, according to a translation from the AP. "Who would have known he would cause such trouble, the idiot."

[Dr.Zoidberg]

In memory

Here the final list of the victims: http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2007/vir...ims/index.html

In their honor

The victims came to Virginia Tech from around the United States and around the world, from different cultures and different continents. They ranged from teenagers just embarking on their careers to professors with decades of teaching experience. These are profiles of the victims, accompanied by thoughts and memories shared by those who knew them, some of which have been edited for length and clarity. (Do you have a tribute or story you'd like to share? Please send it here.)


Ryan Clark, 22, was known as "Stack" to his friends in the Marching Virginians college band. The Virginia Tech senior came from Martinez in Georgia and was a "true example of 'The Spirit Of Tech'," according to a message posted on the band's Web site. He majored in biology and English, and carried a 4.0 grade-point average, according to the coroner in Columbia County, Georgia. Clark was a resident assistant at West Ambler Johnston Hall, the dormitory where he and another person were shot dead at 7:15 a.m. Monday. He had been planning to pursue a PhD in psychology with a focus in cognitive neuroscience, according to the Marching Virginians Web site.

Arielle Perlmutter of Buford, Georgia, wrote:
"I worked with Ryan Clark at Camp Big Heart, where we both spent part of our summers counseling kids and adults with special needs. At camp, Ryan was one of my closest friends. We had many inside jokes and spent a lot of time being silly and laughing. Ryan never had a frown on his face, and even when something was bothering him, he was only upset for a short time and moved back to his good old happy self. Ryan ran the dance/music program at camp and was constantly moving, singing and entertaining both the staff and campers. Ryan was very happy himself and was always working to make others happy. Camp Big Heart will never be the same without him, and our camp community will bear the scars of the loss for many years to come. Ryan was a gift in the lives of people who met him. He will be missed forever."

Posted by Ty Gerschick of Orlando, Florida:
"I've known Ryan Clark for nearly 10 years, as only a handful of people do. We have worked together for the same number of years at Camp Big Heart, a camp for mentally and physically challenged children and adults. The bond between the staff and volunteers that work at this camp is one that can only be described as "Family." We grieve with Ryan's immediate family, including his twin brother, whom I've also had the privilege to work with and know well, for this great loss. Ryan will always be remembered by all that knew him for his kind heart, willingness to help and his fabulous sense of humor. I can not recall a time when I saw Ryan in a solemn mood. He made camp a better experience for both campers and staff by simply showing up year after year. His infectious laughter and spirit were contagious to all those that had the pleasure of his company. Ryan was an integral part of our camp family and his presence can never be replaced. He will never be forgotten and will always be missed."

Posted by Chris McCollough of Baton Rouge, Louisiana:
I want to say I had the pleasure of knowing Stack for 4 years from the time I was a junior in college until I finished my M.A. in Communication at Virginia Tech. We met through the MVs, and I spent 4 wonderful years in the grace of his charm, wit, and love of life.

He didn't know the meaning of judgmental; he took you as a friend, and never asked how you were flippantly. He was all about service for others above himself. He was so very human, so very compassionate, and above all, the kind of person everyone needs in their life.

We've all been in so much pain over his meaningless death, but as our director, Dave McKee told me this afternoon on the phone, we shouldn't spend our time dwelling on his death, because there isn't a rhyme or reason. We should celebrate his life, and the lives of all of these amazing people we will have to find a way to go one without.

Ryan, you were one of our best, I got to watch you grow from an 18-year old kid into a young adult, and you are what I will aspire to for the rest of my days on this earth. Thank you for being there for all of us.

Posted by Alaine Kemp of Jacksonville, Florida:
I had the privilege of working at Camp Big Heart for the past six summers with him. I remember my first year as a counselor, driving onto the campsite, and Ryan immediately coming over to the car to help me unload my things. He was an extremely outgoing person and made my first year at camp memorable and convinced me to come back the next summer. Now Camp Big Heart is my family, and our family is grieving deeply over his loss. He was our music director at Camp Big Heart, a camp for the mentally disabled, and that activity will never be the same. It will only be a matter of time when we get there this summer when campers start asking about him. That is how unforgettable he is. His charisma and passion for our campers is admirable and he was an amazing person to look up to.

Posted by Monica Price of Annandale, Virginia:
On Monday, April 16th the world lost one of the best people I have ever had the privilege to know in my entire life. Among other invaluable Virginia Tech HOKIES that have been stolen from Hokie Nation, I was honored enough to know Ryan "Stack" Clark. I don´t want anyone to remember him as just "that RA in West AJ" during the tragedy at Virginia Tech. Because Stack was more than that to everybody. He was an RA, a VTCKI´er, a son, a Marching Virginian, a brother, a friend, a ball of spirit, a loud mouth, a boyfriend, an incredibly gifted and talented student, a HW clubber, a confidant, a sarcastic icebreaker, an employee, a hokie, and an all around inspiration among other things that I could go on listing forever.

And after all of this has happened I´m just learning that Stack has touched the lives of more people than I´ll ever know. But that is his gift. He has the ability to walk into a room of 50 people and not judge anyone but form close connections with all of them and that is simply amazing. I met Stack in the Fall of 2003 at Virginia Tech. He was a prospective member of Circle K International at Virginia Tech (VTCKI) and we were waiting for the project chair to come pick us up to go and tutor elementary, middle school, and high school students in Christiansburg, Virginia. I didn´t even know Stack well at this point but I knew that he had been assigned as one of my "Sponsees" through VTCKI´s Sponsor/Sponsee program that paired old members with new members and I knew I was in for a ride from that point forward. Stack was the best person to hang out with and talk to. He ALWAYS listened to what people had to say and always gave the best advice. And not just the advice that people want to hear, but the things that people needed to hear so that they could make the right decisions in life. Stack was one of the smartest people I knew as well; he was working on three majors at Virginia Tech and yet somehow had time to touch the lives of so many students on campus in other way or another. Virginia Tech expects academic excellence all year long; to even work on one major is a daunting task for students, I never quite figured out how Stack was working on three majors and not constantly locked away in his room.

Stack was also the most sarcastic person I knew, but in the best way possible. I knew when he would walk into the room because of his sarcastic humor. He would say something insane when entering and I wouldn´t even need to turn around to know "Stack is here!" Stack had the best laugh too! His laugh always made me want to laugh and smile and wonder how things could be just be so funny all at the same time. When Stack wasn´t making his impact on campus with Hokies, he loved kids. Although, he was involved with everything on campus he always made time to go to Homework Club, which is an after school program through Prices Fork Elementary in Blacksburg, Virginia. VTCKI sends members every Tuesday and Thursday to go and tutor the kids there. Even during stressful weeks at Virginia Tech when all of us were getting slammed with exams, and papers and tests, Stack would make the time to go to homework club, nothing was going to keep him away from helping others. Stack gave the absolute best hugs out of every friend that I know. These hugs would be really tight squeezes that never seemed to last long enough. Sometimes he would even pick people up when he hugged them and spin them around. Simply the best. Stack was my big little brother (because he´s much taller than I am but younger than I am). He was loud and proud and he´ll always be around. Because no one can forget him; he made connections with people in a way that I never knew was possible. In the aftermath of all of this everyone feels as if Stack was their best friend. And that´s because he made everyone feel so special; if you knew him for a day, a month, a year, you just felt like you had known him for all of your life.

After everything that has happened, I´m not most sad for myself because Stack´s time with us was cut extremely short. But I´m the saddest for the people that didn´t have a chance to meet him yet. I´m not sure how the world is going to go on with one less Ryan "Stack" Clark in the world. But the ones that did have the chance to know him, if even for a minute, we are lucky ones.


Kevin Granata, age unknown, was one of the top five biomechanics researchers in the country working on movement dynamics in cerebral palsy, the head of Engineering Science and Mechanics Department at Virginia Tech said in an e-mail to The Associated Press. His academic career included stints at the Johns Hopkins University, Ohio State University, University of Virginia and Wake Forest University.

Posted by Steven Macy of South Bend, Indiana:
Kevin Granata is my brother in law, and he was 45 years old. I want to share a little bit about the man I knew and his family. Husband, father of three beautiful children, a Son, an Uncle, a Godfather, and a friend to many. Even though I only had the opportunity to see Kevin and his family occasionally I came to know a very nice, and sincere man, and a man with a sly sense of humor. I will tell you about the sense of humor in a moment.

Trying to help his family through this is really tough. To see and be part of the grief and heartache of loosing a loved one in such a horrible way is more than anyone should have to take. My wife and I are in the middle of transferring from the Toledo Ohio area to South Bend Indiana. So I am back at work trying to keep appointments we have to find a new house, our current home is sold and the trucks are coming to pack us up Monday the 23rd. We will be homeless until we find something out here. We have our own young children to take care of and my wife is working and in Nursing Grad School. I have been working away from home for over a year. But all those things that seemed so important are now rendered meaningless because of the senseless act of one person.

Posted by Scott England of Blacksburg, Virginia:
That video shows Dr Granata very true to life, teaching others and loving what he did. Several people have asked how I knew him so I'll use the same simile I told them. In graduate school, your advisor is like your father. They fund your education, introduce you to the field, correct you when you make mistakes, and show you how to be an outstanding academian. For the rest of your life your work reflects on theirs and their work weighs on you. Dr. Granata was a brilliant and prolific young researcher whose hard work and ambition enabled dozens of students to pursue graduate degrees, and Monday we all lost a father.

Posted by Steve Zinder of Fullerton, California:
I had the great fortune of having Kevin as my doctoral advisor while he was at the University of Virginia. With a background in sports medicine it was somewhat daunting to step into a biomedical engineering lab to do my doctoral work. Kevin had such energy and a vitality to answer questions through research that it was an amazing experience. If you had a question to answer, he would say "let's figure out a way to answer it", "let's build something", or "let's start playing around". It was a great atmosphere.

Posted by Scott Loring Sanders of Christiansburg, Virginia
I only met Kevin two months ago. His work at Virgina Tech speaks for itself, but I didn't know him in that capacity. He was my 13-year-old son's lacrosse coach. And this is what struck me about him and made me realize he was a man who cared. His children didn't play on the team, nor had he ever played lacrosse in his life. He told me that he just saw the game, fell in love with it, and wanted kids in our community to have a chance to play. So besides his work at Tech and his devotion to his family, he somehow made time to coach kids that weren't even his own several times a week. What more needs to be said? That's the kind of man he was, and though I didn't know him well, I wish I had. He, like all the rest, will be deeply missed. He was a man making a difference.

Posted by Mark Abel of Charlottesville, Virginia:
First, my words can not adequately relate all that Kevin Granata has meant to people in this world. He was the model scientist, teacher, husband and father to 3 children ages 10-14 years. There has been a profusion of emails and calls from concerned people across the U.S. and Europe.

Kevin Granata was an extremely bright scientist who adopted the work ethic that he was raised with in Ohio to achieve great things in a life that should not have been this short. He received undergraduate and doctoral degrees from Ohio State in Engineering Physics then Biomedical Engineering respectively. After his post-doctoral work at Ohio State, he was recruited in 1997 by the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery of the University of Virginia to be the Research Director of the Motion Analysis and Motor Performance Laboratory. He held a joint appointment in Biomedical Engineering. He brought with him a federally funded grant to study trunk movement and the relationship to loads and back injury. While conducting this work, he focused his keen mind on expanding his research in human movement to understand how brain injury for children with cerebral palsy interfered with balance and movement. He worked with myself and Diane Damiano to understand ankle and knee coupling incerebral palsy and in determining ways to quantify threshold joint velocities during spastic gait. During his six years at UVA, he was extremely successful in attracting federal and other grant funds. He published extensively on movement dynamics, joint stability and relationship to injury as well as adaptations to spastic movement constraints. His successes in research and teaching quickly brought him tenure at UVA. He was an outstanding resource for graduate students in mechanics, bioengineering, sports medicine and orthopaedics. Dr. Granata's research vision was to develop a center to study the essence of human movement and how machines, braces and walking devices could be developed to overcome human disability. In 2003, he started the Musculoskeletal Biomechanics lab at Virginia Tech where he held the rank of Professor of Engineering Science & Mechanics. At Virginia Tech, Dr. Granata resumed work on walking stability and the influence of speed as well as the dynamics of body trunk stability.

Dr. Granata was recognized as a top notch scientist at the University of Virginia and Virginia Tech. His extremely logical and insightful approach made him a popular research collaborator. Indeed he fostered inter-institutional research with both UVA and several other universities across the country. He was a leader in the American Society of Biomechanics, the American Society of Mechanical Engineering, the Gait and Clinical Movement Society and Human Factors, and the Ergonomics Society. He was also associate editor of the Journal of Applied Biomechanics and the Journal of Electromyography and Kinesiology. The world has lost a great contributor and our challenge is to think of the appropriate way to honor Kevin Granata.


Liviu Librescu, 76, was a Holocaust survivor who, his son said, will be remembered as a hero. He "blocked the doorway with his body and asked the students to flee," Joe Librescu told the AP. "Students started opening windows and jumping out."The elder Librescu, a professor at Virginia Tech, was recognized internationally for his research in aeronautical engineering, the head of the Engineering Science and Mechanics Department at Virginia Tech told the AP. He was born and received his advanced degrees in Romania. (Watch Librescu's son remember his heroic father)

Professor Edward Smith of Penn State University wrote:
"Professor Librescu was well known in the aerospace engineering community. I have known professor Librescu for the past 18 years, ever since I was in graduate school. We attended the same annual conferences and worked in the same research area (composite structures). He was a true gentleman. [He was] always very professional and 'formal,' dressed in a business suit and very serious about his work. Professor Librescu had a good sense of humor and had many friends in the aerospace community. We are all deeply saddened by this tragic loss."

Posted by Shannon Mauck of Evans,Georgia:
Early in my mechanical engineering studies at VT, I had the good fortune to have Professor Librescu for Dynamics. Intimidating as the subject matter was, I was even more intimidated by the presence of Professor Librescu. He knew Dynamics very well and respectfully demanded his students do the same. I remember him several times reminding us "you must know your dots and double dots" which was in reference to the fundamental equations of dynamics. With much effort, I survived the class and went on to complete my Mechanical Engineering degree. I still today think back to Professor Librescu and his tireless work ethic, and professionalism as one of several Professors I had while at VT that helped shape my own discipline, and work ethic as an engineer. My wife, who is an ME graduate from VT as well, and I are deeply saddened by this tragedy. Our hearts go out to our alma mater, and all of the families touched by this tragedy.

Posted by Wenjiong Gu of Ann Arbor, Michigan:
Prof. Librescu is a respected teacher, humorous and decent. I took his aeroelasiticity course. He was my thesis committee member too. He is always there willing to help me whenever I go to his office. He saved those young hokies by the loss of his own. I am sure he did that without hesitating. The university is enriched by such a loving heart. We will forever remembering him.

Posted by Naresh Chandiramani of Mumbai, India:
I did my MS (1985-87) and PhD (1988-93) with Dr. Librescu as my advisor for MS and co-advisor for PhD. He was very caring about his students, and always welcomed them to his office for discussions. I remember the working lunches in his office where we discussed my research, and sometimes classical music and issues related to Indian, Israeli, and American societies. He shared his lunch if you happened to be in his office at that time. Above all he was a perfectionist in his work, which rubbed off on me. He was extremely dedicated and enthusiastic about his research and motivated students with his eastern European attitude, speaking, and gestures. We bonded very well, like Father and son. He was most welcoming during the late night discussions at his home, during the writing phase of both my theses. His wife Marlene was a superb host during these discussions. It appeared that he continued to work at home late into the night, and western classical music always played in the background. I am amazed that one can have such zest for academic work at the age of 76 years. I maintained email contact with him since my return to India in 1994, and since 2001 we were again working together and publishing. A few hours before the tragedy we exchanged emails about our future research. I was looking forward to meet him during a conference in Australia this July, since I could not meet him when visiting the USA in 2004. That is one regret that I shall always carry since we never met after I left Blacksburg in 1994.

Posted by H.S. Tzou of Lexington, Kentucky:
Prof. Librescu belonged to the elite class of distinguished researchers and scholars in engineering mechanics. He was also a leader and organizer in organizing national and international conferences and symposia over the years, in addition to serving on many editorial boards and scientific committees. His contribution and leadership have been, and always be, recognized in the community. Prof. Librescu was not only a scholar and leader, but also a gentleman. His accomplishment reflects a superb standard in our profession.

Posted by Mahmood Tabaddor of Rochester, Michigan:
Dr. Librescu was a member of my dissertation committee. While he was someone well versed in his field, he was very humble and gentle. I have wondered in the past few days how I would have reacted to such a terrifying encounter. However, Dr. Librescu has shown that in life's normal routine and abhorrent times, his courage was constant. I am proud to have known Dr. Librescu and members of his family.

Posted by David S. of Charlottesville, Virginia:
I met Liviu Librescu (and Mrs. Librescu) while finishing up a hike at Ragged Mountain in the Charlottesville area last year. I had thought I was the only person on the trail that day until I heard classical music playing ahead of me. When I rounded the corner there they were; walking together and enjoying some of the finer sights and sounds the world has to offer. We ended up talking for a while and I remember calling my wife to tell her of this fascinating couple I had met. I really admired them for being out there enjoying nature and each other.

Posted Jessica Inman of Oakland, California:
I met Mr. Librescu as a teenager when preparing for my confirmation at temple. We went to hear several Holocaust survivors tell their story to our small class. I remember vividly being so moved by his words, grace and compassion. I took with me that day a strong message to become a better person and practice tolerance. Over the years I have thought about everyone who spoke to us about their personal tragedies and have kept Mr. Librescu's advice close to my heart. I would give just about anything to let him know what an impact he had and how appreciative I am.

I am deeply saddened as an American, as a young Jewish woman and as a human being. I am comforted by the regular reports in the media that students, faculty, staff and the residents in town are banding together as a community to support one another during this unimaginable time.

Posted by Inder Chopra of Bethesda, Maryland:
Professor Librescu was a scholar and a gentleman -- who was always generous with his students, an extremely humble person, a very dedicated and inspiring teacher, and a very diligent researcher. I met him at numerous conferences, he always showed cheerful demeanor and always recognized research contributions of others. In my opinion, he showed true heroism on Monday. Myself, my family and my colleagues at the University of Maryland salute him for his bravery and sacrifice for others. God bless his soul in peace.


G. V. Loganathan, 51, was a professor of civil and environmental engineering in the College of Engineering at Virginia Tech. Since coming to Virginia Tech in 1982, he earned the Outstanding Faculty Award, the Dean's Award for Excellence in Teaching and the Faculty Achievement Award for Excellence in Civil Engineering Education, according to his biography on the Virginia Tech Web site. Loganathan, of Tamil Nadu, India, lived with his wife and children on Virginia Tech's campus, according to the Times of India.

Ken Ying of Raleigh, North Carolina, wrote:
"Professor G.V. Loganathan was my professor when I was a graduate student in Virginia Tech. I worked with him for a research project and helped him with the computer lab management from 1985 to 1991. He was a kind and thoughtful gentleman. I always remember him for his elegant style and perfection in research and teaching. I learned a lot from him each time he gave me those helpful critiques on my works. It is a great loss of everyone from this tragedy. We just lost a great professor and a great friend. All my thoughts and prayers go out to his family. They just lost a great husband and a great father."

Posted by Amit Sachan of Raleigh, North Carolina:
Dr. G.V. Loganathan, 'GV' as we call him, was my graduate advisor during my master's work in Civil Engineering. He was indeed a finest academician, guide, and above all a wonderful person. He was always so sincere and passionate about his work. The first day I landed in United States and went to see him, he welcomed me and gave my thesis topic and pile of book to look into. As sincere and knowledgeable he was, he was always patient in explaining simple concepts to naive like me. With him around, I always had somebody to look up to. He served as my reference in all the jobs I have ever had after my graduation. Despite his busy schedule, he would take out time to respond to my emails/calls about request for reference. I have lost a big support in my life.

Being from the same Alma Mater, he fondly talked about his experiences some times. He would try to teach us by his own personal experiences. I wish I can imbibe even a fraction of his teaching in my life.
May god rest his soul in peace and give strength to his family members to bear to loss.

Posted by Paul Bartholomew of Audubon, New Jersey:
I was taught by Dr. Loganathan and did some work for him during one of my summers at Virginia Tech. He is one of the people I looked up to as a model for developing a better version of myself. He was not only a brilliant man, but also an incredibly wise and gentle one. Dr. Loganathan was more than an innocent victim, he was a tireless researcher who gave so much to everyone around him and pulled along so many students into higher experiences and opportunities.

Posted by Alan of Blacksburg, Virginia:
Dr. G.V. Loganathan was the kindest person I've ever met. It was an honor to have him last semester for "Intro to CEE" and it was once again a privilege to have him for "Measurements" this semester. He always taught with a smile on his face that I will never forget. Dr. Loganathan deeply cared about his students. His death is a terrible loss to the Virginia Tech community and he will never be forgotten. The engineering community in Virginia tech, the nation, and the entire world will never be the same. May he rest in peace, and may his family and those affected find comfort in the great work that he did at Virginia Tech.

Posted by Vikrant Desai of Williamsburg, Virginia:
Dr. Loganathan was my professor in few of my undergraduate classes. The thing that I loved about him the most is that even two years after I had a class with him, every time he would see me in a hallway he would stop and say hi. He would always ask how things are going. He was one of the best teachers I had at Virginia Tech. He made even tough subjects fun with his teaching methods. Just an overall great person.

Posted by Eric Burtzlaff of Blacksburg, Virginia:
Professor Loganathan was quite possibly the best professor I ever had while going through my schooling. I took him for a number of classes including CEE measurements, Fluid Mechanics, and Water Resources. He was a funny, well spirited man. I remember always making fun of the way he said certain words just because his English wasn't perfect. It was all in good fun as no one could really dislike him. You just got the impression he would never hurt a fly. Being a senior now at VT I can't imagine the fact that no other Civil Engineers will ever again have the same honor of being taught by such a knowledgeable and well rounded professor. He was a vital piece of the Civil Engineer Community at VT and a wonderful piece of my college career. He gave the hardest final I've ever taken but I still loved every second of his classes. R.I.P. Professor. You will be dearly missed by every student you ever touched.

Posted by Anurag Mishra of Blacksburg, Virginia:
Dr. Loganathan taught me Advanced Hydrology in 2004, the same class where this incident happened. He was the best teacher I have ever had. He had a unique teaching style and had knowledge of minutest details of subjects he taught. He rarely used powerpoints. He taught us on the blackboard, and engaged all of us all throughout the class. You cannot feel left out or neglected in his class.

He didn't care if we submitted assignments on the due date, but he definitely cared that we should understand the complete concept. He would give us an extra day or some time if we could work on the assignment.

Dr. Loganathan will always be alive in his inspiration to teach diligently like him. He will always be there in inspiration to learn the intricate details of subjects we worked on. People like Dr. Loganathan do not die -- they stay alive through their impressions on their family, relatives, friends, students and peers.


Ross Alameddine, 20, was a student from Saugus, Massachusetts. The sophomore English major was shot during French class, a family friend told The Associated Press. A Facebook page created in Alameddine's remembrance called him "an intelligent, funny, easygoing guy who will be greatly missed."

Jake Valentine of Cincinnati, Ohio, wrote:
"I only went to high school with Ross for two years before we moved. We had 10th grade chemistry together, among other things, such as shooting the breeze before classes and at lunch. He'd always make class enjoyable with his humor, which even the teacher would acknowledge. There wasn't a mean bone in his body. He was one of the nicest, wittiest people you'll ever know. What strikes out most about him is that his Facebook status will always let people know how selfless he was. His last day started wishing one of his friends a happy birthday. He will be truly missed by all."

Posted by Eric Tillotson of Newport News, Virginia:
Ross was a person with much character. I was his suitemate for a year when he lived in Cochrane Hall. Everyday when I got back from my classes, I would pop my head into his room and see what he was up to. We would occasionally talk about different things ranging from religion to politics; there really was no subject that was considered taboo. He was also an avid PC gamer and loved to play them. He was also a rollerblader and would talk about the landscape of Virginia Tech when he traveled to his classes. I will definitely treasure the year that I spent with him as his suitemate and I'll miss him very dearly.

Posted by Patricia Hendricks of Idaho Falls, Idaho:
My son, Allen Wilson, is also an English major at Virginia Tech. Ross was in his editing class. Allen transferred to Tech last semester. He told me that Ross was the first person who talked to him. They were sitting in class and Ross turned around and starting talking to Allen. That made Allen feel welcome and not so much "the odd man out" as most of the other students were acclimated to Tech and many knew each other from other English classes.

Allen received a poor grade on his first assignments in the class, for my brilliant son this was a shock and concern. Ross helped him with a couple of assignments and that also made Allen feel welcome and comfortable.

Thank you Ross, I'm grateful that you made my son feel welcome. I'm glad you were the kind of person to reach out and make a friend. I'm glad my son knew you.

Posted by Ally Haak of Ingomar, Pennyslvania:
I only had class with Ross this past semester and he really stood out and immediately became close with everyone in the room. The class was english and he had it right after his french class. On the way, he would stop at ABP and pick up a hot chocolate for his friend in the class and it seemed the most selfless thing to me because at college, your social status depends on the amount of money you have on your meal plan ;-) and to sacrifice some money every morning just to make someone else happy shows the kind of guy he was. He often made the comments in class that were jovial and break any serious or boring discussion -- he was sort of a fun-loving class clown who also happened to be incredibly intelligent. I remember him often quoting the movie "The Big Lebowski" and that always brought a smile not just to his face, but every student in the room. My heart goes out to his family and friends and I hope they can learn how truly wonderful and impressive of a man Ross was.

Posted by Michael H of Beltsville, Maryland:
Ross truly was an amazing kid. I first met Ross when we became partners in a calculus class to do these crazy weekly assignments (MATLAB). I struggled in the class and could barely get through any of it. Week in and week out Ross would bring his hilarious sarcasm and vast knowledge to the table, which allowed our group to excel. Ross, you were an amazing human being and you will live on forever.

Posted by Samantha Sutherland of North Reading, Massachusetts:
No words can begin to explain how much Ross will be missed. For myself and many others in my high school class of '05 from Austin Prep it is hard to grasp the tragedy that occurred on Monday. Ross was an outstanding student and a great friend. With his unforgettable sense of humor and character Ross was loved by everyone. He will be greatly missed and will always in our prayers.... you'll never be forgotten

Posted by Martha Shook-Leslie of Melrose, Massachusetts:
Ross was my son's best friend since first grade. Even though Ross and Peter went to different high schools and colleges, they stayed in touch daily, often playing online games "together." Ross was at our house so much that I called him Son Two (or Son Too), and he called me Mom Thing. The two boys always let Peter's younger sister hang out with them, and Ross was especially sweet to Mary. Peter's birthday is the day before Ross', so they often celebrated together. The two boys had the same quick wit and loved to play with words. Ross brought a lot of laughter to our lives. I will miss his "virtual" hugs.


Matthew La Porte, 20, of Dumont, New Jersey, was studying political science and French and was a member of the Corps of Cadets, the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets band, the Highty-Tighties and the U.S. Air Force ROTC, according to his MySpace page.

Posted by Corinthian Kelly of Newport News, Virginia:
"I have lost a fellow brother and for this I am deeply saddened. Matthew La Porte lived directly across the hall from me. Matthew was a member of my training company, the Regimental Band, which is a part of my larger extended family, the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets. Matthew had a beautiful, uplifting spirit and sense of humor. I know from my own experiences in working and training with him that he always tried his hardest and put forth his best effort in everything he did. When others would fade under the pressure that the Cadet lifestyle entails, Matthew never gave up, and he never quit; to me he epitomizes one of the maxims I hold dear 'strength from unity, pride through perseverance.' Thank you."

Posted by Nate Kane of Rock Hill, South Carolina:
"Matt was the goofiest guy I had met in the Air Force ROTC program. What a good guy... Although I wasn't close friends with Matt, he was in my flight and saw him more than a usual cadet in the Air Force program. He tried hard in everything he did, and really didn't have a sense of physical pain. I can remember vividly him pushing through a hard run with extremely bad limps due to shin splints. I'll never forget him, that crazy smile on such a quiet person. Rest in Peace buddy!"

Posted by Diana Gomola of Bellefonte, Pennsylvania:
My son attended Carson Long Military school with Matthew La Porte. He was a freshman when Matt was a senior. He remembers when the school announced that Matt received a 100k fully paid scholarship. It was announced in the lunchroom and the cadets were told to congratulate Matt. It was a small school, appx. 200 students total. I asked my son about Matt last night and he told me that he was a funny fellow and everyone at school knew and liked him. I send my condolences to his family and all the victims of this senseless tragedy.

Posted by Joshua Carroll of Blacksburg, Virginia:
I knew five of those killed in Monday's shootings at Tech. In fact, of the first four names I heard of those killed, I knew three of them, including Professor Loganathan, Jarrett Lane, and Matt LaPorte. I also knew Matt Gwaltney and Dan O'Neil, both TA's in two of my engineering classes this semester and last. All of them were able to teach me something, especially the students, over the last few years of my life, so only giving tribute to one would not give justice to the impact they all had on my life. This is true of all the victims of Monday's tragic events... even though I only knew five of those killed, I recognized dozens more as I saw their pictures just from being in a class or seeing them around campus. Not having them all is a great loss to all of us and to the environment they helped create at Tech. I'm thankful for having known these few lost, and hopeful that their memory will continue to make Virginia Tech a great place to live, work, and learn.

Posted by Celia Lindsey of Newport News, Virginia:
I did not know Matthew, but while visiting Tech this past weekend, I ran into him while he was performing for a freshman ceremony. We only had a fifteen minute conversation, but from that, I could tell that he was extremely sweet, funny, and full of life. We are praying for his family, and know that he is playing in another band now and is full of peace and joy.

Posted by Kevin Kocur of Casper, Wyoming:
Matt La Porte was a student of mine at Carson Long. He sat in the first row, second seat of my world history class. Probably the best cadet the school has ever seen. He loved history and he had an interest in turtles (that's what I'll always remember). He will be missed.


Christopher James Bishop, 35, taught German at Virginia Tech and helped oversee an exchange program with a German university. Bishop decided which German-language students at Virginia Tech could attend the Darmstadt University of Technology to improve their German. "He would teach them German in Blacksburg, and he would decide which students were able to study" abroad, Darmstadt spokesman Lars Rosumek told the AP. The school set up a book of condolences for students, staff and faculty to sign, along with information about the Virginia shootings. "Of course many persons knew him personally and are deeply, deeply shocked about his death," Rosumek said. Bishop earned bachelor's and master's degrees in German and was a Fulbright scholar at Christian-Albrechts University in Kiel, Germany. According to his Web site, Bishop spent four years living in Germany, where he "spent most of his time learning the language, teaching English, drinking large quantities of wheat beer, and wooing a certain fraulein." The "fraulein" was Bishop's wife, Stephanie Hofer, who also teaches in Virginia Tech's German program.

Tom Smither of Chapel Hill, North Carolina, wrote:
"Christopher 'Jamie' Bishop worked with us in the foreign language department at the University of North Carolina for a couple of years, and he was deeply loved by all of us here. We were saddened by his leaving us to go to Virginia Tech. We are absolutely devastated by his untimely death. He will be missed on this earth. God bless his soul and look after his lovely wife, Stephanie."

Posted by Chris Buman of Virginia Beach, Virginia:
"Herr Bishop was one of the nicest professors you could ever have at Virginia Tech. He wanted his students to succeed. He was always approachable and would come to check up on his students. He had a passion for teaching German, and he seemed to be at home in the classroom. He always made our lessons fun, and loved to get students involved. Anyone who had him as a teacher will be the first to tell you that he will be sorely missed."

Posted by Anca Luca Holden of Belchertown, Massachusetts:
Jamie Bishop and I were colleagues for two years in the German Department at the University of Georgia, where we both pursued a Master degree. We took several classes together and taught German as teaching assistants. Jamie always struck me as a kind, outgoing, witty, and optimistic person. He was one of the most relaxed graduate students I have met and certainly one of the most liked teachers of German in our department. One could always count on finding on Jamie's office door comic strips, quotes, cartoons, or pictures that would be thought-provoking and humorous. Being one year my senior in the program, I often asked Jamie for advice in teaching matters, which he gladly and generously offered. One of my most vivid memories of Jamie is from a workshop on the German poet and playwright Bertold Brecht held at the University of Georgia. Participants were invited to come up with a dramatic reading of one of Brecht's poems that was assigned on the spot. Jamie's was outstanding: he rapped the poem while beating the rhythm with his hands at the desk he was sitting. I am very saddened that such a kind and gifted person like Jamie was abruptly and tragically taken away from us. My thoughts and prayers go out to his wife, Stephanie, and to all who knew and loved Jamie. We will miss you, Jamie!

Posted by Christopher Fox of Blacksburg, Virginia:
I first met Jamie last August when I came to Virginia Tech as a Masters student. I had spent the previous year in Germany, and in an effort to continue using my German language skills, I attended a weekly function that Jamie had organized. This function, called Stammtisch, was meant to bring together speakers of German to simply relax and speak German. Anyone from beginners to native speakers were welcome. This was something I looked forward to every Wednesday. Jamie's cheerful and welcoming presence was always something I could count on to take the edge off of an otherwise stressful week.

Unfortunately I only knew him through these weekly meetings. But in my many conversations with him, I learned that he was a man of excellent character. He was a dedicated instructor who loved what he did. He was patient, accepting and kind, and I feel honored to have been a part of his last months on this earth.

Posted by Anthony Rose of Virginia Beach, Virginia:
Christopher Bishop, or Herr Bishop as many of us knew him, was one of the kindest professors that I have ever had the pleasure of knowing. I have been in his class since the beginning of the academic school year this past year. He was a joy to have, I had his 8 am class on 16 April 2007, and as always he was his cheerful and funny self. Like many others I felt he made an unbearable 8 a.m. time slot one of the classes I looked forward to going to the most. He would help anyone, anywhere at any time. If you had trouble with assignments or tests he would be there for you, no matter how busy he was. With his class sizes being only 15 people or so in each you got to know him as a close friend and not a teacher. Herr Bishop will always be in my thoughts, prayers and in my heart. I will always remember his long pony tail hair, circle glasses and the warm heart that he had. God bless Herr Bishop, you will never be forgotten.


Jocelyne Couture-Nowak, a French instructor at Virginia Tech, was instrumental in the creation of the first French school in a town in Nova Scotia. She lived there in the 1990s with her husband, Jerzy Nowak, the head of the horticulture department at Virginia Tech. Richard Landry, a spokesman with the francophone school board in Truro, Nova Scotia, told the AP that Couture-Nowak was one of three mothers who pushed for the founding of the Ecole acadienne de Truro in 1997. "It was very important for her daughters to be taught in French," Rejean Sirois -- who worked with her in establishing the school -- told the AP. A student who identified herself as DeAnne Leigh Pelchat described her gratitude to Couture-Nowak on a Web site. "I will forever remember you and what you have done for me and the others that benefit from what you did in the little town of Truro," Pelchat wrote in French. "You'll always have a place in my heart."

Posted by Stephanie Harris of Newport News, Virginia:
"Mme. Couture taught intermediate French at Virginia Tech for a number of years. She was a wonderful, dedicated, joyful professor, and will always be remembered as an outstanding person. She taught me French for a year, and through the close French community, we continued to keep in contact through my time at Virginia Tech. The impact she made on me, and many other students, with her heartfelt advice and genuine care will not be forgotten. It is evident that she was not only a memorable professor, but also an exceptional mother. -former student, French club officer, VT alumni 2006"

Posted by Kim Dale of Truro, Nova Scotia:
"Jocelyne Couture-Nowak was my neighbor and best friend when she, Jerzy and their children lived in Truro. We all thought the world of her. She was a vibrant, kind and caring mother, neighbor, friend. She was passionate about teaching especially the French language. She and her family were very, very important and special to myself and my family. We are devastated by her untimely death and in a state of disbelief about the whole thing. Our hearts are with her family and friends there in Blacksburg and all over North America."

Posted by Katy Maitland of Blacksburg, Virginia:
"Mme. Couture-Nowak was one of the nicest and understanding professors I have ever had the privilege of learning from. She was always smiling, happy to have her students engage in one of her passions: the French language. She was the very first French professor I had at Virginia Tech, and in the past 3 and a half years I have been a student at VT, she has always been sincerely happy to see me and to give me a big smile and "bonjour" whether it was passing by me on campus or buying a cup of coffee from me. She never forgot my name. She will truly be missed as she was a wonderful teacher and person."

Posted by Laura Cocoltchos of Blacksburg, Virginia:
I was Jocelyne Couture-Nowak's Personal Trainer. I learned of the news yesterday and was deeply saddened. Jocelyne was full of life and energy, always ready to go! She was motivated to be in the gym and loved to weight train (she was one of my only clients that can do 8-10 pullups unassisted!).... she loved to do spin class as well..... She had a strong passion for her family, fitness and gardening..... She will be dearly missed and never forgotten.

Posted by Richard Chase of Lynchburg, Virginia:
I didn't know Jocelyne through school (even though I was a student at the time...) but rather through weekly contact in the grocery store which I worked. She was a regular customer who brought her kids with her to grocery shop. I remember first meeting her while she was speaking French to her children. I thought to myself "she must be from France" but fact she wasn't but wanted to get her children used to speaking in French. After taking French in high school for 5 years, I was interested in brushing up on what I knew, so I decided to communicate with her in French. About 2 - 3 times a week I saw her for 4 years. She was always very pleasant and fun to speak with in French. She will be missed greatly.

Posted by Shelley Batteau of Richmond, Virginia:
I had Mme. Couture for Intermediate French my sophomore year. She was very passionate about her job. You could tell she truly loved French and would do everything she could to help her students succeed. I remember one of my classmates was really struggling, and Mme Couture helped him two or three times a week. A lot of people think you can't get the one-on-one attention at large universities that you can at smaller ones, but Mme Couture really proved them wrong. And on top of all that she was one of the sweetest people you would ever meet. She was always smiling and was endlessly patient.

Posted by Katie Norton of Richmond, Virginia:
Mme. Couture-Nowak was an incredible individual whose constant smile showed how much she loved teaching, her students and the French language. I first met her when she hosted discussion groups at local coffee shops so students could have "real" French conversations. I was always shy but she somehow managed to coax some French out of me. She never thought twice about using up her free time in order to help students. She was more concerned that we learn to appreciate the language than focus on tests or grades. She inspired me to travel abroad in order to learn the language. She was always smiling. That's just who she was.


Caitlin Hammaren, 19, of Westtown, New York, was a sophomore majoring in international studies and French, according to officials at her former school district. "She was just one of the most outstanding young individuals that I've had the privilege of working with in my 31 years as an educator," John P. Latini, principal of Minisink Valley High School, told the AP. Hammaren graduated from the high school in 2005. "Caitlin was a leader among our students." Minisink Valley students and teachers shared their grief Tuesday at a counseling center set up in the school, Latini said.

Posted by B. L. of Roanoke, Virginia:
Caitlin H was a member of the sorority Kappa Kappa Gamma. She was loved by all and will be sorely missed by her sisters.

Posted by Jack & Judy Baudistel:
Jack Baudistel of Easton, Maryland We were shocked to learn that one of our former co-worker's daughter was one of the victims at VT. Our hearts and prayers go out to John Hammaran and his family. We were deeply saddened for all of the victims, and pray that their families can find comfort and support during this difficult time.

All our love and prayers,
Jack & Judy Baudistel


Jeremy Herbstritt loved to chat so much, high school classmates voted him "Most Talkative." "Talkie, talkie, talkie, everybody likes to talk," read the description in the 1998 graduate's Bellefonte High School yearbook. Below was a picture of Herbstritt, with a sly grin, talking on a pay phone. Herbstritt, 27, had two undergraduate degrees from Penn State, one in biochemistry and molecular biology from 2003, and another in civil engineering from 2006. He grew up on a small farm just outside the central Pennsylvania borough of Bellefonte, where his father, Michael, raised steer and sheep. He wanted to be a civil engineer, and he talked of getting into environmental work after school. "He liked to work on machinery, take a lot of stuff apart and fix it," the victim's grandfather Thomas Herbstritt, 77, of St. Marys told the AP. "He was a studious kid."

Posted by Timothy Farrell of Blacksburg, Virginia:
Jeremy Herbstritt was a lab instructor in one of my civil engineering labs. With his easygoing and relaxed personality, he always made lab enjoyable to go though. While the material that was covered was not always exciting, his intelligence paired with his humor made class one that I looked forward to. I hope that he will be remembered with great character, intelligence, and humor on a life cut way too short. R.I.P. Herbs...

Posted by Xiaojun Chang of Blacksburg, Virginia:
Jeremy and I took a same class last semester. This is the very first class I had since I arrived at VT. We were in a same team during a class discussion. He helped me a lot. Thanks Jeremy!

Posted by Paul Kline of Bellefonte, Pennsylvania:
Jeremy was more than just a neighbor here in Spring Township, near Bellefonte, Pennsylvania. Jeremy was a friend, a young man who was respected and well liked. Our family will always remember Jeremy for his funny sense of humor, his laugh, his smile, his love for life, and most importantly, his love for his parents Mike & Peggy, his sisters Jen & Stephanie and his brother Joe.

Jeremy's family is in our thoughts and prayers. May the Lord bring comfort to the Herbstritts and the other families affected by the events of Monday morning at Virgina Tech.

Posted by Brett Vance of Bellefonte, Pennsylvania:
I knew Jeremy through his brother. We both were on the Cross Country team together at Bellefonte High School. Jeremy had a drive that I have never seen in anyone ever before. He loved life and was never short of being a great person. He and his family shared a bond that is a real testament to the American Family. Jeremy has funny, energetic, and brave. Never faltering or backing down. He is loved and will always be loved and missed.

Posted by Gigi Meyer of Richmond, Virginia:
Jeremy sat next to me in one of my graduate courses at Penn State, and we worked on assignments and studied for exams together. I had just started in the graduate program and Jeremy was one of the friendliest students I met there. He was always upbeat and smiling. We went hiking together and I'll never forget the energy and joy he had. I'm so sorry, Jeremy. I'll never forget your kindness and charisma. You and your family are in my prayers.

Posted by Diana Gomola of Bellefonte, Pennsylvania:
I didn't get to exclusively know Jeremy until a few years ago, when my family became neighbors with theirs. Jeremy was always fun and easygoing. I remember a time when he and my dad searched for a deer in the fields for hours in sub-zero temperatures -- nothing could get his spirits down.

Goodbye, Jeremy. We love you and miss you.

Posted by Jenni Rowles Rach of Lewisburg, Pennsylvania:
I knew Jeremy through 4-H and grew up spending summers at Camp Brule with him, his sisters, brother, and mom. He had a very kind heart and could always make you laugh no matter what the situation was. I've spent the past few days recounting some of the great stories of our summers spent together and all of the funny things we did, including square dancing, having water battles, cleaning up in the camp kitchen, and playing frisbee football. Jeremy was really great working with the younger campers and I know a lot of kids looked up to him as a role model. He will be dearly missed and my thoughts and prayers are with his parents, Jen, Steph, and Joe.

Posted by V. Reddy Padala Of State College, Pennsylvania:
I know Jeremy as an undergrad who took a Biochemistry laboratory course that I taught in the fall semester of 2002 at the Penn State University. I distinctly remember Jeremy as a vibrant, enthusiastic and conscientious student. In fact, I wrote several recommendation letters in support of his graduate school applications. My heartfelt condolences, prayers and thoughts to the Jeremy Herbstritts's family members as well as the family members of the other victims of VT tragedy.

Posted by Matthew Parkinson of State College, Pennsylvania:
Jeremy was in the first course I ever taught at Penn State. He was a delight and well-liked by the class. Smart and quick, but not a show-off and always eager to help others have a great experience. Such a loss.

Posted by Linsey Marr of Blacksburg, Virginia:
Jeremy was repeatedly described as a "ball of fire" at our memorial for the victims of his classroom. The few conversations he and I shared confirmed this description. He came on with the energy of a pit bull, but a pit bull with the demeanor of a golden retriever. He obviously loved life.

Posted by Norma, Felicia, Carrie and Jarred Soster of Snow Shoe, Pennsylvania:
My family was in 4-H with Jeremy and his family. Words can not describe how wonderful this whole family is. Sheep club would not have been the same without them. Jeremy was a wonderful person and a true joy to be around. Jeremy as well as his whole family have continued to give endlessly of themselves to others and have always been there to lend that helping hand. Our prayers and hearts are with the whole family as you go through this terrible time. You are in our hearts and our prayers. God Bless You!

Posted by Jesse Damsker of Washington, D.C.:
Jeremy and I attended many biochemistry courses together at Penn State. He was one of the most conscientious and hardworking students I have ever known. In fact, after many exams we would make it a point to compare answers and discuss what we thought of the test. Jeremy was one of those people who had the capacity to get along with just about anyone. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends.

Posted by Lauren Nagy of Boulder, Colorado:
We knew Jeremy from 4H camp where each summer for years, he would help many young campers adjust to being away from home (many for the first time). His infectious enthusiasm and cheerful wit made him an icon in the dining hall, where youngsters where drawn to him immediately. We are proud to have known him and his wonderful family. As we follow this tragic happening, it strikes us that Jeremy was everything Cho was not...Peggy, Mike, Jen, Steph, Joe; know you are in our prayers.

Posted by Vern & Lorrie Nau of Jersey Shore, Pennsylvania:
I was fortunate enough to have known Jeremy during our undergraduate studies at Penn State. His appetite for life was unmistakable. He was never without his warm and generous smile. Jeremy Herbstritt radiated unselfishness, compassion, honesty and appreciation for everything with which he can into contact. He was a man that radiated all that is beautiful and wholesome with the world. May the light that he shed, on all of the lives that he touched, continue to shine strong and warm. Jeremy, know that you are missed and dearly remembered.


Emily Jane Hilscher, 19,a freshman majoring in animal and poultrysciences, was known around her hometown as an animal lover. "She worked at a veterinarian's office and cared about them her whole life," Rappahannock County Administrator John W. McCarthy, a family friend, told the AP. Hilscher, of Woodville, Virginia, was a freshman majoring in animal and poultry sciences. She lived on the same dorm floor as victim Ryan Clark, McCarthy said. A friend, Will Nachless, also 19, said Hilscher "was always very friendly. Before I even knew her, I thought she was very outgoing, friendly and helpful, and she was great in chemistry."


Jarrett Lane, 22, was a senior civil engineering student who was valedictorian of his high school class in tiny Narrows, Virginia, just 30 miles from Virginia Tech. His high school put up a memorial to Lane that included pictures, musical instruments and his athletic jerseys. Lane played the trombone, ran track, and played football and basketball at Narrows High School. "We're just kind of binding together as a family," principal Robert Stump told the AP. Lane's brother-in-law Daniel Farrell called Lane fun-loving and "full of spirit." "He had a caring heart and was a friend to everyone he met," Farrell said. "We are leaning on God's grace in these trying hours."

Posted by Jon Altizer of Atlanta, Georgia:
I remember, as a kid, visiting my grandparent's house in Narrows, VA and playing with Fawntane, Jarret's older sister, and Jarrett himself. I traveled to Spain with Fawntawn and have very fond memories of the Lane family and our time spent together. It's difficult being in Atlanta and not being able to be in Giles County during this troubling time. The entire community, far and wide, feels the terrible sense of loss following Monday's tragedy. I offer my sincerest of condolences to the Lane family, as well as all those who lost loved ones, as we continue the painful process of mourning and begin the renewing process of healing.

Posted by Ryan Radspinner of Bluefield, West Virgina:
I met Jarrett through several classes that we shared in the civil engineering curriculum. We were lab partners many times and he was in a current design team with two other colleagues. Everyday over the past few weeks he had been waiting to hear from University of Florida regarding graduate; the last time our design group met he received the email and we were all there to congratulate him and share in his excitement. I know this semester in particular he was very zealous in his studies but was always willing to help anyone if they needed it. I dread going to class and sitting next to an empty chair. God bless us all.

Posted by Brandon Overby of Blacksburg, Virginia:
My fiance introduced me to Jarrett, and immediately he was friendly to me. As I became better friends with Jarrett, it was obvious that nobody was a stranger to him; he was so friendly and intentional in his relationships. One of the aspects that most comforts me in his death is the fact that he loved the Lord and was saved. I know that I will see him again, and the way that he lived his life has left a lasting impression on me. Jarrett, we love you and miss you!

Posted by Crysty Sharpe of Richmond, Virginia:
I had the opportunity to meet Jarrett this past football season at a number of tailgates with our mutual friends. Though we never got to know each other in depth, Jarrett was always extremely nice and made his best and successful attempt at making me feel welcome in the group. Above anyone else, he went out of his way to keep a conversation. My thoughts and prayers go out to my friends who lost their dear brother and to his family mourning the loss of such a warm-hearted individual.

Posted by Heather Pence of Peterstown, West Virginia:
I remember Jarrett because he worked for me. He was a sweet, smart, kind individual. He always had a smile on his face. He was what every employer dreamed of getting -- a hardworking kid with good values. He will truly be missed.

Posted by Pastor John Clark of Graham, North Carolina:
My wife and I met Jarrett and his mother as we stood in line with our son during freshman orientation at VT. He and our son ended up rooming together during that orientation and we were all very favorably impressed with him. When we saw last Tuesday evening on CNN that he was among the fatalities at the school, my wife and I, and our son when we told him the next morning, were very deeply touched. Jarrett left an inexplicable mark on our hearts that we can still feel, even after these years have passed, and that tells me that he was a special person. Our prayers have been with his family and friends, and ourselves that God will somehow help us all gain whatever good there may be from the very great loss.

Posted by Joshua Carroll of Blacksburg, Virginia:
I knew five of those killed in Monday's shootings at Tech. In fact, of the first four names I heard of those killed, I knew three of them, including Professor Loganathan, Jarrett Lane, and Matt LaPorte. I also knew Matt Gwaltney and Dan O'Neil, both TA's in two of my engineering classes this semester and last. All of them were able to teach me something, especially the students, over the last few years of my life, so only giving tribute to one would not give justice to the impact they all had on my life. This is true of all the victims of Monday's tragic events... even though I only knew five of those killed, I recognized dozens more as I saw their pictures just from being in a class or seeing them around campus. Not having them all is a great loss to all of us and to the environment they helped create at Tech. I'm thankful for having known these few lost, and hopeful that their memory will continue to make Virginia Tech a great place to live, work, and learn.

Posted by Linsey Marr of Blacksburg, Virginia:
Jarrett Lane was a senior in my Air Resources Engineering class. He sat in the front corner, and I have to admit that I had a hard time understanding his southern accent at first. But I soon came to know him as a smart, hard-working, thoughtful, and very nice person who was quick to offer a smile. In our last class together on April 12, he challenged me on a detail in my derivation of particle collection efficiency of cyclones. I have since cleaned up the derivation to make it more precise and will be presenting it in his honor when we return to class next week.


Daniel Perez Cueva, 21, of Peru, was killed while in a French class, his mother, Betty Cueva, told the AP. Perez Cueva was a student of international relations, an interest driven by the 9/11 terrorist attacks. He spoke four languages, loved soccer and swimming, and was a member of the Honor Society, his friends said. "I'll miss his smile and his laughter," friend Donald Smith told CNN. "We're missing a friend, a very good friend." (Watch a family recall an ambitious son )

Jennifer Miller of Dale City, Virginia, wrote:
"I met Daniel Perez last year where we both worked at the time, and I liked him instantly, as everyone did. We became good friends and spent a lot of time together right before he left home to start in the fall. He was so excited to attend Virginia Tech. I remember frantically calling him the day in August that classes started when the other shootings happened, how he reassured me that everything would be OK and how he was his usual happy self. I wish we could hear his voice again, telling us that everything's OK now. I'll always remember him as one of the most ambitious and driven people I've ever met. He had a beautiful smile that would brighten up anyone's day and a wonderful sense of humor. He will be missed by many. Daniel's with God now, and that's my only consolation during this awful time."

Posted by Daniel Paredes of Albuquerque, New Mexico:
I met Daniel in Peru, where I come from, where we were members of the same swimming team club. I also know his family and my family does too. Unfortunately, we lost contact when they immigrated to the United States in their goal to achieve a better life, coincidentally, just the same way my family did. This news struck me as a college student from the University of New Mexico, but when my family and I heard the he had past away, my mother burst in tears and thanked God I was still with her. Personally, I cannot believe that this great person is not with us anymore. He did not do anything wrong. He just wanted to study, like most immigrants do, in order to achieve his dreams, the American dream. Terrible news like this don't usually strike people because we seem to not to appreciate the real dimension of things that happened, but when a person you know is a victim, it makes a big impact on life. Through this message I would like to make a call for a prayer, just one, for all the victims and their families and hope they rest in peace.

From Larissa Mihalisko of Blacksburg, Virginia:
Daniel and I lived in the same city, went to to different high schools, but competed against one another during high school swim meets. We became close friends when we met at an International Relations Organization of Virginia Tech meeting, where we recognized each other from our high school swim seasons. We instantly became friends, and were delegates at the Georgetown Model United Nations Conference. That weekend is where many friendships blossomed. Not only was Daniel intelligent and passionate about international relations (daniel, austin, and our group was set on changing the world!), but his love and caring for his friends was endless. He was my bambino, I his bambina. He taught me, and many others in IROVT, to dance like "real Peruvians." Tu me manques, Daniel.


Erin Peterson, 18, died while she was in her French class, said her dad, Grafton Peterson. The last time he spoke to her was during a visit at school on Sunday, he said. A fan of "old-school" TV shows like "Diff'rent Strokes" and "Sanford and Son," Peterson described herself on what appears to be her MySpace profile as a "jeans and a t-shirt girl." Friends left anguished messages on her profile as news of the shootings first spread. The messages now recall fond memories of graduation and prom night. "You have no idea how much my heart aches knowing I'll never see you again," one message read.

Katie Schoolfield of Fairfax, Virginia, wrote:
"Erin Peterson was the sweetest, most caring person I knew. I played basketball with her, and she was the 'big sister' of the team. She was always there to offer a helping hand or a giant hug on a bad day. Erin was the kind of person who walked into a room with a smile on her face and it made everyone else smile no matter what kind of mood they were in. Everyone in Fairfax, Virginia, from her Lessons Learned basketball family loves and misses her, and are keeping her family in our thoughts and prayers. Rest in Peace, Erin."

Posted by Susan Hammond of Arlington, Virginia:
I've known Erin since grade school and I am deeply saddened by her death. She was an outstanding person and gifted athlete and student. Her loss is tragic and hits home. She always made everyone laugh and smile, and she always looked on the upside. Everyone who knew her wishes her family and friends sincerest condolencences. She is in my thoughts and prayers everyday. You will be missed Erin!

Posted by Narges Najmyar of Sterling, Virginia:
Erin is a beautiful Angel. She truley brightened my day with her loving smile. She was caring, smart, loving, and kind. I can't stop thinking about her and how someone could do this to such innocent people. Its been the hardest two days of my life! It was just on Friday where I saw her at the gym and she introduced me to her gateway kids that she was hosting. Being the loving person that she is, she hosted 3 kids. I miss her so much words cannot explain. I searched for her all day Monday, but God found her first...R.I.P. Erin Peterson. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. I love you Baby Girl -Narges

Posted by Melody Heath of Virginia:
I knew Erin in middle school and I think we just loved to annoy each other. There are two things that I will always think of when remembering Erin. One was her fierce loyalty to her friends and the other is basketball. Our middle school was small with only 40 students in sixth through eighth grade. We practiced at a local park because we didn't have a gym at the time and barely enough players to fill the court. Most of us showed up to have a few laughs, play some ball, and hang out. Erin? She was there to win. And you were in trouble if you ever said that we couldn't. That being said, I was in trouble a lot. No matter what, she always played her best and expected everyone else to do the same. With everything in me, I wish we were on the court right now getting told by her to stop fooling around and focus on the game.

Posted by Christie Bell of Grand Prairie, Texas:
Dear readers and close friends of Erin. I am a 32-year-old woman who has never lost anyone close to me in my entire life. Not a friend, a relative...no one. Since the shooting, I have blocked out every image, every article and every news broadcast of a lost student and beloved family member. In my own way I have shunned the pain that is associated with such a horrible tragedy. Until today. Today, I logged on to CNN for the first time, ready to deal with it...ready to accept it, and saw the listing of lost victims, and those who will never be forgotten. As I sat at my desk, my heart became heavy and cried. My mind finally accepted it as true. I clicked on one photo... Erin Peterson.

Her face, her picture... she was beautiful. I read about her, her life, and I read the words from those who loved and knew her most. I went to her Myspace page... I saw friends leave her comments of initial concern when the shooting happened...saying call me and let me know you are okay....and then I read further to see those same friends come back to tell her goodbye. I imagined how it must have felt for them to type those simple words...goodbye. I have cried for this young aspiring student as thought she were my own child. Because to me, she represents that child -- that child that was doing their best in school, so close to having it all, and positioning her life to have even more.

Erin.... your family, friends, loved ones will all miss you dearly... but me, and the rest of the world, who never knew you will miss you too.

Posted by Veronica Bonilla of Centreville, Virginia:
I have been blessed and so very fortunate to have had the honor of knowing Erin throughout high school, and then going on to college together. We were both so excited about coming to Tech. I cannot recall one unhappy memory of her and that's how I will always remember her. She had the biggest, brightest, and best smile of anyone I have ever known. Anyone who knew her could tell you how much of a fighter she was. She was always ready to pull you up when you were feeling low. Erin possessed such a strength and infectious spirit that you really couldn't help but love her and want to be around her. I only wish I could have had the opportunity to tell her all that I felt, but I take comfort in knowing she is watching over me and knows how I feel without ever having to say a word. She was simply an angel who was put on this Earth to teach us not be afraid to laugh as loud and as often as we wanted. I will always, always, always love her and hold a spot for her in my heart.


Juan Ramon Ortiz, 26, who was from Puerto Rico, was teaching a class as part of his graduate program in civil engineering at Virginia Tech. The family's neighbors in the San Juan suburb of Bayamon remembered Ortiz as a quiet, dedicated son who decorated his parents' one-story concrete house each Christmas and played in a salsa band with his father on weekends. "He was an extraordinary son, what any father would have wanted," Ortiz's father, also named Juan Ramon Ortiz, told the AP. Marilys Alvarez, 22, heard Ortiz's mother scream from the house next door when she learned of her son's death. Alvarez said she had wanted to study in the United States, but was now reconsidering. "Here the violence is bad, but you don't see that," she told the AP. "It's really sad. You can't go anywhere now."

Posted by Neisha Torres of Guaynabom, Puerto Rico:
I didn't know Juan Ramon but he was at the same high school as my cousin. They both played basketball in the school. And I have one of my friends who played as well with Juan Ramon and my cousin. The high school they went together is very close to my house, is an excellent school. Here in Puerto Rico this news, this ironic tragedy, touch us very deep down, we as well are in mourn. My cousin told me yesterday how Juan Ramon was a very nice kid, very gentle, intelligent, one of a kind. Puerto Rico is a very small island and when a tragedy like this happens, we all unite, doesn't matter if we didn't knew Juan Ramon in life. Very sad this whole thing. RIP, Juan Ramon.

Posted by Julio Martinez of Coamo of Puerto Rico:
First of all my deepest condolences to all the families, friends that have lost their loved ones at Virginia Tech Institute on Monday. I can't imagine the pain and the suffering inflicted in this beautiful community of Virginia. Throughout this message I want to say that I'm deeply sorry for the lost of this bright students especially for Ramon Ortiz from Puerto Rico. "Mi hermano", now you are in heaven in the presence of God, I pray that one day you can be reunited once again that only with your friends but also with the ones that loved very much. Even though I don't know your family and I didn't knew you, my prayers and all the prayers of all the good people of Puerto Rico are with you and your family. Your legacy, charm and talent will live on. Rest in peace my brother.

Posted by Benjamin Ortiz of Clifton, New Jersey:
I am so sorry to hear about Juan Ramon Ortiz and all if the casualties of the Virginia Tech tragedy. Being a fellow Puerto Rican from Aibonito, my thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends. I didn't know him, but it seems that he was a very loving son and a really good friend.

Posted by Veronica Castillo of Bayamon, Puerto Rico:
Juan Ramon was my cousin. Our entire family is devastated by this tragic incident, but overall by the loss of an excellent human being. I'm sure that he was the best among all of us. I pray for all the victims and also that their families could find consolation. In the name of my family I would like to thank everyone that has included Juan Ramon in his prayers.


Mary Karen Read, 19, was born in South Korea into an Air Force family and lived in Texas and California before settling in the northern Virginia suburb of Annandale. Read considered a handful of colleges, including nearby George Mason University, before choosing Virginia Tech. It was a popular destination among her Annandale High School classmates, according to her aunt Karen Kuppinger. She had yet to declare a major. "I think she wanted to try to spread her wings," Kuppinger told the AP. She said her niece had struggled in adjusting to Tech's sprawling 2,600-acre campus. But she had recently begun making friends and looking into a sorority. Kuppinger said the family started calling Read as news reports surfaced. "After three or four hours passed and she hadn't picked up her cell phone or answered her e-mail ... we did get concerned," Kuppinger said. "We honestly thought she would pop up."

Posted by Manuel Mawana of Annandale, Virginia:
I met Mary at Annandale High a while back and she was a very nice person. I didn't get to know her that well but, she had very high goals she wanted to set for herself and it sad that someone had to take her goals and her life form her in an instant. My condolences go out to her family. May she rest in peace.

Posted by Saman Azam of Berlin, Germany:
I went to middle school with Mary. Even in the short time we were together I found her to be a very caring, affectionate and charming person. It's heartbreaking to know her beautiful life was cut short so tragically. I'll never forget her and she will always live on in the memories of all those she knew. I pray for Mary, may she find her way to heaven and I pray for her family, may time heal their pain and grief.

Posted by Chriztian Chang of Herndon, Virginia:
God bless you Mary. May the Lord protect you now and forever.

Posted by Alexander Franjie of Annandale, Virginia:
I have known Mary Read for three years from Annandale High School. There was not one day in those three years that I did not see a smile on her face. She was a very intelligent person and I can't believe that this happened to her. I know that she is with the angels and God right now along with all the other victims of this bloody massacre.


Reema Samaha, 18, was a first-year student of Lebanese descent at Virginia Tech and went to the same high school in Centersville, Virginia, as the shooter, Cho Seung-Hui. Her father, Joseph, described her as a "shy girl till you got to know her." She was looking forward to majoring in urban planning with a minor in international relations because "she thought she could solve the problems of the world," her father said. Samaha, remembered as a beautiful and creative dancer, performed the weekend before the shootings, which marked the last time her parents saw her alive. "I keep her in my mind," her father said. "Her face is in my mental vision. It keeps me going." (Watch student's father remember his daughter's love for dance )

Andrew Gaddy of Chesapeake State, Virginia wrote:
"Reema lived down the hall from me. She was cherished by all for going out of her way to make everyone feel accepted and content. She would always give a kind smile and a greeting to everyone she saw. Everyone in our hall has been greatly impacted by losing her."

Joanna Abdallah of Clifton, Virginia, wrote:
"I didn't really know her, but she touched the lives of people very dear to me. I remember watching her on stage at Westfield High a couple times; she was very talented. Everyone who did know her thought she was nice, intelligent, and funny, and she will be missed. She survived the Lebanon/Israel war to die on her school campus. R.I.P. Reema."

Posted by Simi Khalsa of Herndon, Virginia:
I met Reema last year when we performed together at the Northern Virginia Center for Dance and Theater's dance company. She was one of the kindest people I have ever met and a very talented dancer. The world has lost a beautiful person and I have lost a sweet friend. My heart goes out to the Samaha family. Reema...I love you and will miss you!

Posted by Maria Laham of Dubai, United Arab Emirates:
I met Reema a year ago in Lebanon she was my best friends cousin, I was practically part of their family, from the moment I saw Reema I loved her, she had the most beautiful smile, she was always nice and fun, we went out a couple of times she was truly a genuine and kind person, so sweet. Reema and Nayla Samaha (my best friend) were not just cousins they were best friends. I'm trying to be there for her as much as I can. Rest in Peace Reema, we really miss you.

Posted by Jason Eldredge of Centreville, Virginia:
I am a teacher in Northern Virginia and ... taught Rema Semaha as a junior in US/VA history and as a student she was the perfect child. Always contributing to the class effort and always smiling and being proactive as a student with both her peers and adults she surrounded in the High school setting. She was loved by all who knew her and even in my new school she was known and remembered by a few who had once gone to school with her. She was the type of kid everyone wants their daughter to be, intelligent, beautiful, and full of life.

Posted by Gloria Dabaghi Abdulmasih of Towaco, New Jersey:
I am a Lebanese American citizen grew up in Mclean, Virginia. I met her mother Georgette and her father Joseph in a wedding in Washington D.C. for the first time they were newly married with their first newborn baby. What a wonderful couple. They left a good impression, and I couldn't forget them. Because of knowing the parents I feel the pain with them for the loss of beautiful, talented Reema. Seeing her pictures yesterday on CNN as a smart, talented young lady makes you proud of her accomplishments and her beauty. I can't believe the emptiness she is going to leave and the impact is so outrageous to loose such a beautiful young lady. With her loss not only the U.S.A. lost her, The whole Lebanon lost their daughter and her dreams. My condolences to her family and the entire Samaha family. R.I.P. our beautiful Lebanese American friend. We will miss you.

Posted by David Jiang of Fairfax, Virginia:
Reema was a good dancer and an even better person. I remember that I had a good deal of trouble keeping up with her during the practice of what was for me, at least, a difficult dance routine. My deepest condolences go out to her family and her dance squad.

Posted by Laura Hall of Stafford, Virginia:
Reema lived on the hall below me. She was a beautiful, wonderful, outgoing, sweet girl. There is no other person in the world like her. I would see her everyday going to and from class and every time I saw her she would run up, give me a huge hug, and enthusiastically scream out "OMG LAURA HALL HIIIIII!!!!" She had such a big impact on my life and the lives of others. Virginia Tech and my dorm will not be the same with out her. Love you girl and miss you. RIP and one day we will meet again.


Austin Cloyd, Austin Cloyd, an international studies major from Blacksburg, Virginia, was so inspired by an Appalachian service project that helped rehabilitate homes that she and her mother started a similar program in their Illinois town, her former pastor said.

The Cloyds were active members of the First United Methodist Church in Champaign, Illinois, before moving to Blacksburg in 2005, the Rev. Terry Harter told the AP. The family moved when Cloyd's father, C. Bryan Cloyd, took a job in the accounting department at Virginia Tech, Harter said.

Harter, whose church held a prayer service for the family Tuesday night, described Cloyd as a "very delightful, intelligent, warm young lady" and an athlete who played basketball and volleyball in high school. But it was the mission trips to Appalachia that showed just how caring and faithful she was, he said.

"It made an important impact on her life, that's the kind of person she was," he said.

Posted by Jeffrey Schmidt of Norman, Oklahoma:
"Austin Cloyd was a delightful young lady. Truly. Her family moved to Champaign, Illinois, in 1999, the same year my family and I came to Illinois. And they moved to Blacksburg in 2005, the same time my family and I moved to Norman, OK. I worked with Austin's dad, Bryan, in the College of Business at the University of Illinois, and her family lived in my neighborhood. Her mother, Renee, was youth director at our church (First United Church in Champaign). Austin babysat for my 3 children. And they loved her. She also volunteered in the nursery at our church. Austin traveled with the church youth group to build houses for the needy. She was the most pleasant, beautiful, nice young lady you could meet. When my daughter was born nearly 3 years ago, Austin and her mom came to our house to give us a present they had purchased. We will never forget her. And we will continue to pray for Austin and her family, along with all the others lost in this senseless tragedy!"

Posted by Kelly Webb of Kennesaw, Georgia:
Austin was a good friend to me -- almost like a sister when I went to school at the U of Illinois. I was far from home, and the Cloyd family adopted me as their own for those few years. We had awesome memories together. I was older than her, but that didn't matter -- this gal was wise beyond her years. Giving, mature, confident, athletic, caring and funny are the words that come to mind when I think of her. So many stories make me laugh to this day, but now there are tears too. She LOVED the Illini basketball team and was a great fan! She loved her TV shows and made sure to tape them if she was not going to be home - she never missed an episode of any of "her shows." She stood a very tall 5 foot 11 inches, making her stunningly beautiful. I was also tall so we had that great bond, and gave each other strength to stand confidently. I remember late night snacks when I would sleep over at their home, getting in trouble for being too loud at church group, tons of fun shopping in NY City, going out to lunch with her friends, all her sporting events... and many more. The last time I saw her, she helped me pick out my dress for my rehearsal dinner and we had a blast together in Atlanta! I will keep all these memories alive and want everyone who didn't know her to get a glimpse of this amazing young woman. She will be remembered forever, and those of us still here on earth will embrace her family for years to come. Austin I love you sweet girl and will see you in Heaven.

Posted by Larissa Mihalisko of Blacksburg, Virginia:
Austin and I met through the International Relations Organization of Virginia Tech, on our way to a Model UN Conference at Georgetown University. Our club clicked, we all loved Austin. Not only was she incredibly smart, but she was so funny, so beautiful, so athletic. She was always up for a good time and cared so much for her friends, especially her very best friend Alyssa Katz (another active member of IROVT). Austin loved going to concerts, taking road trips, and international relations. She's my hero, I hope she knows how much I love and miss her.

Posted by Hannah Joyce of Fieldale, Virginia:
I had handled the events of Monday fairly well ... until last night. While attending a candlelight service at my hometown church, just an hour and half away from Blacksburg, I saw a young girl sitting on the front row. This young girl had long, red curly hair with fair skin and a subtle grin constantly on her face. For some reason, throughout the service, I couldn't seem to keep my eyes off of her. She looked so content, and I began to cry. She reminded me of Austin. Not just any Austin, but the Austin that sat on the floor in the lifeguard room at McComas Pool, patiently waiting for her kids to come in for swim lessons. She just sat there; normally quiet, with a slight smile on her face. And when her kids came, they all flocked to her because they tended to be so excited about their lessons. She must have been a good teacher! Who wouldn't have wanted to learn from someone who seemed so content with life? As I sat in my church, I simply pictured Austin's flawless face with that small grin and twinkle in her eye. That face reminded me of a baby doll, so precious and perfect. And then I thought: How can anything so precious not be in God's hands? So I calmed down, took a deep breath, and sighed, because I know she had hope and I should have that same hope for her. She's home, and that's what matters now. She's home!

Posted by Phil Ramsbottom of Champaign, Illinois:
Austin Cloyd, was one of my best friend's sister, I knew her from church and mission trips she had a great personality and was a joy to be around.


Maxine Turner Maxine Turner, a senior chemical engineering student, had finished her required credits and was preparing for her May graduation, but took German as an elective, said her father, Paul Turner. The 22-year-old was shot in the German class.

"She was very excited -- she was very excited about school in general," her father told the AP.

Turner, from Vienna, Virginia, was accepted by a handful of high-profile schools, including Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland. But she was determined to be a Virginia Tech Hokie, her father said.

"We tried to convince her to go elsewhere. When you get accepted to Johns Hopkins, it's a very prestigious school," he told the AP. "But no, she wanted to go to Virginia Tech."

Turner recently helped found a chapter of Alpha Omega Epsilon, a sorority for women in engineering. She had accepted a chemical engineering job with W.L. Gore & Associates in Elkton, Maryland.

"It's a terrible loss," her father said Wednesday, weeping. "I cannot understand the legislators in this country, not putting in laws that protect people."

Posted by Sarah Hoptman of Vienna, Virgina:
Maxine was one of those people that you couldn't help but love as soon as you knew her. She had a contagious smile and a vivacious personality that drew people to her. She was so passionate about anything that she devoted her time to. Her friends, chemistry, engineering, music, drama. She was so in love with life. She was one of the smartest people I know and had so much potential. Maxine, you were so greatly loved in life and will be missed tremendously in death.

Posted by Hubert Chin of Blacksburg, Virginia:
I am a high school friend of Maxine Turner. There is much to say about Maxine besides just being a chemical engineering student from Vienna. She was so smart but she used this intelligence to make people laugh or understand something. I literally cannot remember a time when she was not cheerful. She was just a little girl, I knew her in high school and I would say that she is one of those little girls you always want to nurture when you see her because she is so sweet. ItÕs hard to place such intelligence to such a sweet face. She was so cultured, someone who genuinely enjoyed learning all sorts of things. I mean, who takes multiple languages just for the sake of learning? She played the violin, and we were even stand partners sometimes in orchestra. She did tae kwon doeÉ because she found it interesting. Anyone who ever talked to Maxine for more than 15 minutes will miss her and the thought that we will never ever see her again or talk to her comes with a deep emptiness.

Posted by McGlensey Abiles of Murray, Kentucky:
Maxine Turner went to James Madison High School in Vienna, Va. I was a year under her but was active in the Drama club with her. She was a happy, bubbly person who always had a smile on her face. She was also passionate for music, being in the orchestra. All who knew her were devastated of her death. The class of 2003 and other alumni who knew Maxine have her in our prayers. I know that I will be praying tonight at the Murray State University Prayer Vigil for Va Tech. I will be praying for all of those whose lives were taken and praying for those who were wounded to get well soon. I will also pray for all the students in Va Tech to be strong and stay together. A strong community will help them recover from such a tragic event. I hope that Maxine is safe with God and that her family is being looked after by the Vienna community.

Posted by Andrea Cook of Vienna, Virginia:
Maxine Turner was a beautiful and talented girl. She loved her family and absolutely adored her little brother. She was an enthusiastic swing and ballroom dancer, and enjoyed cooking - Pasta Carbonara was a favorite dish. Maxine was passionate about her Chemical Engineering career long before she entered Tech, and she knew that someday she would invent something that would change the world for the better. She was a friend to every person she met. We will all remember the joy that was her smile and her life.

Posted by Toss Cline of Gainesville, Virginia:
Maxine was a former student of mine at James Madison High School and was one of the most fantastic students I have ever had the pleasure of teaching. She had so many redeeming qualities. She was extremely upbeat, bright, intelligent, enthusiastic and polite. She was indeed a very special lady. She was one of those inspirational students that a teacher would look forward to seeing every day in class because her presence could brighten your day. She stopped by and visited me just a few weeks ago while on spring break and we talked for about 45 minutes. She talked excitedly about finishing her degree and about looking for a place to live near where she would be working. One of the last things she said to me was that she was going to come by and see me one last time after she graduated before she moved to where her new job was waiting for her. I remember feeling a little sad when she said that. Now, it breaks my heart to know I will never get that last visit. You will be missed but never forgotten Maxine.

Posted by Maria Eustace of Guatemala City, Guatemala:
We met Maxine a few years ago through our nephew, John Cerva, who also attends Va. Tech. Word of this tragedy has hit us hard because Va. Tech has always been a part of our lives since growing up in Northern Virginia. Maxine was always so friendly and fun, my children enjoyed getting to meet her and spending time in the Outer Banks with her. She was also a supportive friend, from what I could see - someone whom you could depend on when times weren't always the best. I wish we could be there for her family at this awful time. Having so many bright and vital people snatched from our world in such a horrible way leaves emptiness for us all. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Turner family and with the many other victims of this tragedy.


Minal Panchal Minal Panchal, a building science major from Mumbai, India, wanted to be an architect like her father who died four years ago, according to the AP. She was enthusiastic about coming to the United States to study and was thrilled when Virginia Tech admitted her last year, Chetna Parekh, a friend from Mumbai told the AP. Panchal was a bright, polite person who would help neighborhood children with their schoolwork, neighbor Jayshree Ajmane told the AP.

Posted by Sujay Mistry:
The most kindhearted person ever... very down to earth, very goal-oriented, career-oriented person. Very generous. She probably didn't hate anybody, just liked everybody. Smart, very smart, she's taking after her late father's footsteps. He was an architect and she wanted to follow his legacy.

... I remember making her her 14th birthday cake when I was back in India. Me and her mom made it for her. It was all ready for her when she came back from school. She was just very happy, very surprised.

Posted by Kristen Puckett of Christiansburg, Virginia:
I am a graduate architecture student at VT and Minal was on our floor. Although I doubt if she knew my name, she never failed to say hello to me when we passed downtown or on the floor. We would often hold the door for each other and she ALWAYS had a smile on her face. Being in the architecture program, we spend almost all day, everyday in Cowgill Hall. I will definitely miss her smile. I'm so sorry to all of her friends and family.

Posted by Preeti Badri of Overland Park, Kansas:
Minal was not known to me through Virginia Tech or any other University. But as a fellow Indian, my deepest condolences to her mother and other family members who believed in her and her future. Although she is not amongst us, she has proven her abilities by successfully attaining admission in one of the best schools in the country. She has made her parents proud of her intelligence and continued hard work. I salute you Minal. You will be remembered!

Posted by Neeta Swamy of Ridgewood, New Jersey:
My prayers are with Minal's family. I pray for them to be strong. God Bless.

Posted by Sonali Panchal of Dahanu Road, India:
Our Dear Minal was a very nice person from heart. She was very kind and had a helping nature. We all love you Minal & wish your soul rest in peace.

Posted by Sonali Panchal of Dahanu Road, India:
Minal and I joined Virginia Tech in Fall 2006. She was ever smiling and never have I seen her with the slightest frown on her face. She was an amazing person. I always felt happy when she was around! I met her last on sunday when we all were enjoying the International Street Fair. We were all having a great time. A few hours later, she was gone...

I will miss you Minal!!! May your soul rest in peace!!!


Lauren McCain On her MySpace page, Lauren McCain listed "the love of my life" as Jesus Christ. Her family said the 20-year-old international studies major became a Christian some time ago. Her uncle, Jeff Elliott, told The Oklahoman newspaper that she was an avid reader, was learning German and had almost mastered Latin. She was home-schooled and had worked at a department store for about a year to save money for college.

Posted by Jeanne Meadows of Hampton, Virginia:
Lauren McCain was a beautiful young woman whose mission in life was to Glorify God through her life, and she did. She had such a sweet and innocent heart and loved people and the children of her church. She was active in the AWANA club as a youth leader the years before she left for VT. She was home schooled so this was her first experience in a state school. Lauren was such a witness for Christ that I am sure she was praying for the gunman in her last moments on this earth. We at Restoration church know that she is at the feet of Jesus, smiling upon his face with her beautiful smile. She will be missed.

Posted by Pamela Camya of Middletown, Rhode Island:
Our thoughts and prayers are with the McCain family as they mourn the loss of their beautiful daughter, Lauren. We haven't seen you since Jacksonville and we know how proud you must be of the lovely girl she grew up to be. She's with Jesus now, and we know that that is a great comfort to you.

Pamela, Victor and Sophia Camaya

Posted by Roy Rodriguez of Portland, Texas:
Lauren was in Band with me from 7th and 8th grade in Portland, Texas. I will never forget how much of a wonderful person she was. Her smile brightened up any room, and she was a friend to all. My thoughts and prayers are with her and her family. I cannot believe something like this would happen to such a wonderful person.

Posted by Tom Daly of Blacksburg, Virginia:
I had the privilege of knowing Lauren through an intramural girls powder-puff football league run by Campus Crusade. I was one of the coaches for her team. Lauren was such a sweetheart off the field, but she showed no mercy as our best defensive lineman on the field. She was an amazing girl. Anyone who had the gift of ever meeting her will miss her very much.


Michael Pohle
Michael Pohle, 23, of Flemington, New Jersey, was expected to graduate in a few weeks with a degree in biological sciences, said Craig Blanton, Hunterdon Central's vice principal during the 2002 school year, when Pohle graduated.

"He had a bunch of job interviews and was all set to start his post-college life," Blanton told The Star-Ledger of Newark. At the high school, Pohle played on the football and lacrosse teams.

One of his old lacrosse coaches, Bob Shroeder, described him to as "a good kid who did everything that good kids do."

"He tried to please," Shroeder told the newspaper. "He was just a great kid."

Posted by Matthew Bishop of Blacksburg, Virginia:
Mike was a great guy to know. I worked with mike at a local bar/restaurant and he definitely made work fun and more enjoyable. Mike and I connected immediately when we met because we both enjoyed playing lacrosse. Mike was the guy that was always entertaining people around him and making us all laugh. We will miss mike and I would like to send my condolences to his family and hope they stay strong through this trying time. I will miss you bud. Blue beard "Hey big money. How ya doin."

Posted by V. A. of Milford, New Jersey:
It's hard to believe that a tragedy like this occurred due to someone's personal aggression. It's hard to grasp the idea that someone you know was lost in such a senseless act. Mike Pohle was known as a humorous and competitive spirit who wasn't selfish. Me and my brothers heart goes out to the Pohle family knowing that they succeeded in raising a genuine all around good hearted human being and that as a parent there is nothing you can do to prevent something as horrible as this from happening. A true friend will be missed.

Posted by Natasha Glover of Blacksburg, Virginia:
I knew both Ryan Clark and Michael. They were both my microbiology lab partners at that time. We had groups of 4 and they were in my group. We had such a good time together during that class. Michael and Stack were always joking around and having fun, but we always got our work done. I really looked forward to having class every week because they were so nice and made it really fun. This is a terrible tragedy, neither of them deserved to die.

Posted by Laura Dunning of Blacksburg, Virginia:
Michael was one of the greatest men I've ever met in my life. He was a true family man, loyal boyfriend to his beautiful girlfriend, the best of friend to many, an excellent student, the kind of employee that managers only dream of, and a completely and utterly stand up guy. We all will miss him greatly.


Matt Gwaltney
Matthew Gwaltney, 24, was on the brink of finishing his graduate degree and was planning to return to his hometown for a new job and to be near his parents.

He was a master's student in civil and environmental engineering and was attending Virginia Tech on a fellowship, his father, Greg Gwaltney, told the AP on Wednesday from his home in Chester, near Richmond, Virginia.

"Matt came home Thursday night. He had an interview in Richmond Friday morning, and we got to have dinner with him," Linda Gwaltney, his stepmother, told the AP. "He went back to school Friday after his interview."

It was the last time they saw their only child.

Gwaltney had been the school newspaper's sports editor and named "Best guy to take home to your parents," his high school principal, Robert Stansberry, told the AP.

At Virginia Tech, where he also earned his undergraduate degree, his favorite place was Cassell Coliseum, his parents said.

"He went to every women's and men's basketball game, and went to every football game," Linda Gwaltney said. "If there was a football game, we knew he wasn't coming home that weekend."

Posted by Jenny Wright of Goochland, Virginia:
He was a fellow graduate student in the civil and environmental engineering department. This photo [see above] was taken in the graduate student office in Patton hall where we worked with Matt. Matt was always in there, he worked very hard, he was very dedicated to his students, and a very talented engineer, and he loved Virginia Tech.

Posted by Joshua Nay of Blacksburg, Virginia:
Matt Gwaltney was not only my TA, but my friend. He truly cared about everyone in his class. I always gave him a hard time. I remember one time when VT was playing Clemson in football. Clemson was ranked number 10 in the nation and VT wasn't even ranked. I was pessimistic about VT winning because of their great quarterback Will Proctor. Long story short, VT won and from that day on, Matt called me Proctor. Matt I hope you know how much I respected you and enjoyed being in your class. Proctor is really going to miss you.

Posted by Chris Bonham of Chester, Virginia:
I've known Matt Gwaltney since 2nd grade. I grew up with him and he was my neighbor for about 15 years. We did everything together. There was never a few days during that time that we didn't hang out. He had the best attitude and a very strong passion for what he did in life. He loved sports and he thrived for success. I'm a year older than Matt and after high school graduation I went to school and our contact faded, but we tried our best to stay in touch by email or Instant Messaging.

I remember years ago when we would play a pickup basketball game in his drive way, or get a bunch of guys to play football in his back yard, or when we would play homerun derby. Like I said, I grew up with him, and we've been through a lot.

I will never forget how hard he worked in life. My family and I extend our thoughts and prayers out to the Gwaltney family. We've known you guys for years and if you need anything, anything at all, please let us know. One thing I would like to add, is if there is a basketball court in heaven, Matt is up there playing right now.

Posted by Alan McDonald of Blacksburg, Virginia:
Matt Gwaltney was my TA for "Measurements." He was very kind, and very quick to respond to my many emails asking for help. He would always joke in class with me and make fun of me for sending so many emails, saying, "You have any more questions, Alan?" I will miss him greatly.

Posted by Jenny Wright of Goochland, Virginia:
He was a fellow graduate student in the civil and environmental engineering department. This photo [see above] was taken in the graduate student office in Patton hall where we worked with Matt. Matt was always in there, he worked very hard, he was very dedicated to his students, and a very talented engineer, and he loved Virginia Tech.

Posted by Jim Froula of Knoxville, Tennessee:
Tau Beta Pi extends sincere condolences to the families and victims of the senseless tragedy wrought by one violent psychopath on 4/16/2007. We are all brothers and sisters in this nation's vast educational community and are all affected by this singular terrible event. We are especially saddened by the loss of Tau Beta Pi member Matthew G. Gwaltney, Virginia Beta 2005. We keep the Virginia Tech family in our prayers. Have no fear. Go Hokies!

Posted by Dami Martins of Randallstown, Maryland:
Matt was a great and caring individual. He taught one of my engineering fluids lab classes. Matt always took the time to teach us everything we needed to know he was a patient individual who was always willing to help his students, he worked very hard at whatever he was doing and even though I only knew him a year I knew he would be the best at whatever he did. Matt will truly be missed as a caring person and one of the best Virginia Tech had to offer. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family.

Posted by Matthew Belcher of Virginia Beach, Virginia:
I have known Matthew Gwaltney since I was 8 years old. In fact I still carry the scar behind my left ear from Matthew when we were playing as kids. We grew up on the same street, went to the same schools, his parents were always so nice. He was such a great guy and 19 years later he is gone by the hand of a psychotic killer. I know Matt is in a better place now, but it has shocked the old neighborhood. He was an only child and I can't imagine the loss his parents are suffering. Matt was a grad student in the engineering school just going about his normal day when someone took him away. Please continue to honor all that were lost

Posted by Robert Baugher of Chester, Virginia:
I go to the same High School that Matt Gwaltney went to -- Thomas Dale. The biggest memory I have of him was he was the second basketball player of all time I got an autograph from. I just went up to him after a game and asked if I could have his autograph. Then again I was just 10 years old. He was 17, 18. When I was little I envied him just because he played basketball. Me and him were somewhat of friends. I'd play basketball with him at the YMCA from time to time. Those times were past but the memories will last!

Posted by Joshua Carroll of Blacksburg, Virginia:
I knew five of those killed in Monday's shootings at Tech. In fact, of the first four names I heard of those killed, I knew three of them, including Professor Loganathan, Jarrett Lane, and Matt LaPorte. I also knew Matt Gwaltney and Dan O'Neil, both TA's in two of my engineering classes this semester and last. All of them were able to teach me something, especially the students, over the last few years of my life, so only giving tribute to one would not give justice to the impact they all had on my life. This is true of all the victims of Monday's tragic events... even though I only knew five of those killed, I recognized dozens more as I saw their pictures just from being in a class or seeing them around campus. Not having them all is a great loss to all of us and to the environment they helped create at Tech. I'm thankful for having known these few lost, and hopeful that their memory will continue to make Virginia Tech a great place to live, work, and learn.

Posted by Adam Hall of Baltimore, Maryland:
I met Matt almost 6 years ago, when we both showed up to move into Pritchard Hall. Matt was my freshman roommate at Virginia Tech. He was the kind of guy that could make you laugh and bring you up no matter how down you felt. I specifically remember when he used to rag on me when I was trying to find out how badly I could do and still pull off a C in my Freshman Calculus Class. He would laugh and say, "Dang Adam if you spent half as much time studying as you do just trying to figure out your grade you wouldn't need to figure out your grade" and for some reason I would feel a little better.

Posted by Toni Jefferson of Chester, Virginia:
Honest, Outgoing, Generous, Intelligent, and a Real Role Model. This is what comes to mind when I think about my wonderful neighbor of 4 years, Matt Gwaltney. Matt was a great student and a outstanding Athlete at our High school, and this is why my family and I admired him so much. Just by Matt's demeanor, you could tell he was a guy that was going somewhere in life. Matt was a few years older than my brother and I, but he never hesitated to hang out with the younger neighborhood kids. Whenever he would see us in our front yard shooting hoops, he would always come over and join, and teach us some new skills. Being a busy senior with practice, games, studying and college applications, he still managed to make time to gather the younger kids of the neighborhood for a long game of basketball. I think I can speak for everyone when I say that Matt was a great Mentor and Friend. This is a tragic loss for his family and our community. Matt will be deeply missed and never ever forgotten.

Posted by Adam Hall of Baltimore, Maryland:
I met Matt almost 6 years ago, when we both showed up to move into Pritchard Hall. Matt was my freshman roommate at Virginia Tech. He was the kind of guy that could make you laugh and bring you up no matter how down you felt. I specifically remember when he used to rag on me when I was trying to find out how badly I could do and still pull off a C in my Freshman Calculus Class. He would laugh and say, "Dang Adam if you spent half as much time studying as you do just trying to figure out your grade you wouldn't need to figure out your grade" and for some reason I would feel a little better.

Matt was a walking encyclopedia of sports information and loved basketball, I think he played every day sometimes twice a day, his passion for this sport was obvious on so many levels from teaching people the basics to the way he competed to win in everything he did. Matt was a special guy, almost too good. His hero was Michael Jordan, his chosen drink was Gatorade and his clothes just needed to have a Nike swoosh.

He was a grounded guy and I am so very honor and proud to call him a friend and I am better for having known him. Rest in peace Gwaltney you'll be missed.


Rachael Hill
Rachael Hill was a freshman studying biology at Virginia Tech after graduating from Grove Avenue Christian School in Henrico County.

Hill, 18 and an only child, was popular and funny, had a penchant for shoes and was competitive on the volleyball court.

"Rachael was a very bright, articulate, intelligent, beautiful, confident, poised young woman. She had a tremendous future in front of her," Clay Fogler, administrator for the Grove Avenue school told the AP. "Obviously, the Lord had other plans for her."

Her father, Guy Hill, said the family was too distraught to talk about Hill on Tuesday, but relatives were planning to have memorial events later in the week. "We just need some time here," he tearfully told the AP.

Posted by Hannah G. of Newport News, Virginia:
Rachael and I met in kindergarten at a summer family conference. One of my first memories is running up and down flights of stairs together and standing in the balcony of an empty auditorium pretending to give speeches. During the week of the conference we made our craft projects together, shared our snacks, and walked in pairs wherever the class went. Her mom was my first Sunday school teacher at the church our families attended.

Rachael grew up into a lovely, talented, and intelligent young woman. She possessed maturity, sweetness, and deep love for God and her family.

Posted by Mary Lynn Eastman of Glen Allen, Virginia:
Rachael Hill was a very beautiful young lady, whose determination to make a difference for Christ was a shining example to all who knew her. She just wanted to bring glory to God, and she did that with every breath. Rachael was Vice President of her senior class, an accomplished classical pianist, and MVP of her high school volleyball team. But most of all, Rachael loved her parents and friends with a deep and unshakable love. Rachael's chosen quote and favorite Bible verse in her high school yearbook tell a lot about her character, and reveal a lot about God's grace; her chosen quote was from C.S. Lewis; "God, who foresaw your tribulation, has specially armed you to go through it, not without pain, but without stain." Her chosen Bible verse was Psalm 46:10, "Be still, and know that I am God." A better parting witness cannot be found. Rachael would want everyone to be comforted, to know Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior as she did, and to remain strong.

Posted by Amberly Marria of Gum Spring, Virginia:
Rachel was an awesome young lady. She was always ready to say a prayer or forgive a friend. She was a Christian girl who loved the Lord with everything she had. I will pray for her parents and will always remember her. No one could ever replace her. She was special and will never be forgotten.

Posted by Christy Hughes of Mechanicsville, Virginia:
I was fortunate enough to know Rachael during her senior year. While she wasn't in any classes that I taught, she made the effort to get to know me. Rachael forever had a beautiful smile on her face and was one of those people that you liked right from the start. She was a phenomenal person as well as a strong leader in her faith. I earned a great deal of respect for her and I loved how she had her own personal style and identity without compromising school standards. I am deeply saddened that such a beautiful life was cut short so senselessly. Rachael's legacy will live on in our school and in our lives. We love you Rachael!

Posted by Cindy Woody of Asheville, North Carolina:
Sweet, sweet Rachael. If we can only adjust to the separation.......we miss you but we have a GREAT hope! Jesus has promised that we will be with each other FOREVER. Maggie misses you greatly but we wait with great anticipation for the rest of forever. We are praying for your mom


Daniel O´Neil
Daniel O´Neil, 22, a graduate student in engineering from Lincoln, Rhode Island, played guitar and wrote songs, which he posted on a Web site, www.residenthippy.com. Friend Steve Craveiro described him to the AP as smart, responsible and a hard worker -- "pretty much destined to be extremely successful."

"He would come home from school over the summer and talk about projects, about building bridges and stuff like that," Craveiro said. O´Neil graduated from Lafayette College in Easton, Pennsylvania, before attending Virginia Tech as a graduate student and teaching assistant, Craveiro said.

Posted by Jessica Goldblat of Springfield, New Jersey:
I knew Dan through several arts related groups on campus. Dan wrote music and loved to perform around campus at various block parties, open mic nights, and gatherings. Dan's music can be found at www.residenthippy.com .

He and I performed in a group called the Marquis Players, a group in which students present a musical and donate the proceeds to charity. Dan was a dedicated member of the group and had starring roles the last two years as well as helped construct our set. He loved Dunkin Donuts coffee, the Beatles, Parsons Street, and recording music. Dan was an intelligent, passionate, and a wonderful friend whose energy, humor, and compassion will be missed by all who knew him.

Posted by Ashley Wheelock of Manassas, Virginia:
Oh Daniel, why is life so unfair? You were one of those people who always managed to be SO happy all the time. An eternal optimist, you loved life and everyone in yours. You never would ever say anything cruel or unkind to anyone. Everyone who was around you was warmed by the radiance of your smile. I can only imagine all you were going to accomplish in life. I am saddened for everyone who didn't get the opportunity to meet you. You may be gone but I promise you will never be forgotten.

Posted by Amanda Rarick of Woodbridge, Virginia:
Dan was probably one of the most kind-spirited friends I've ever been blessed to have. We went to high school together and were in the same photography class. Due to the small class size all of us were pretty close. I know many people are grieving his loss and it's so wonderful to see how many people are praying for him and his family and friends.

Posted by Joshua Carroll of Blacksburg, Virginia:
I knew five of those killed in Monday's shootings at Tech. In fact, of the first four names I heard of those killed, I knew three of them, including Professor Loganathan, Jarrett Lane, and Matt LaPorte. I also knew Matt Gwaltney and Dan O'Neil, both TA's in two of my engineering classes this semester and last. All of them were able to teach me something, especially the students, over the last few years of my life, so only giving tribute to one would not give justice to the impact they all had on my life. This is true of all the victims of Monday's tragic events... even though I only knew five of those killed, I recognized dozens more as I saw their pictures just from being in a class or seeing them around campus. Not having them all is a great loss to all of us and to the environment they helped create at Tech. I'm thankful for having known these few lost, and hopeful that their memory will continue to make Virginia Tech a great place to live, work, and learn.


Julia Pryde
Julia Pryde, a graduate student from Middletown, New Jersey, was an "exceptional student academically and personally," said Saied Mostaghimi, chairman of the biological systems and engineering department where Pryde was seeking her master's degree.

"She was the nicest person you ever met," Mostaghimi told The Star-Ledger of Newark.

Last summer, Pryde had traveled to Ecuador to research water quality issues with a professor. She planned to return this summer for follow-up work, Mostaghimi said.

A 2001 graduate of Middletown North High School, Pryde was on the school's swim team and played softball in two town leagues.

Her hometown has been touched by tragedy before, losing 37 current and former residents in the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

"The town pulls together in these situations. Everything that we can do for this family, we'll see what can be done," Middletown Mayor Gerard P. Scharfenberger said, according to the AP.

Thomas Bull writes:
"Julia Pryde was an amazing girl who always had something interesting to talk about. She was passionate about music, her friends, and life in general."

Posted by Michelle Hensley of Blacksburg, Virginia:
My friend Julia Pryde was one of the shooting vitims. She was a Graduate student in iological systems engineering from Middletown, N.J. there are no photos of her so i thought i would send you one. ... She was all about making the Earth a better place.

Posted by Carlin of Raleigh, North Carolina:
Julia Pryde was truly a blessing to know. She always had a smile on her face and something to say. She was one of the most intelligent, laid back, thoughtful, and capable women that I have ever known. I respected her and admired her for everything she was and everything that she was going to be. Blessed be, Julia.

Posted by Reese Voshell of Blacksburg, Virginia:
Those of us in the aquatic entomology program at Virginia Tech were fortunate to have Julia in our aquatic entomology course during spring semester 2006. What we remember most about Julia were her exceptional kindness and caring and how she wanted to make the world a better place by learning about water quality and applying that knowledge in developing countries. In this course students have to make a collection of aquatic insects, which means they have to catch bugs and preserve them in jars of alcohol. Julia was so kindhearted that she did not like killing the insects and would only do so for the bare minimum of kinds that were required and only for one specimen of each kind. She also had a great sense of humor. I remember a class field trip when I was driving a VT van full of students, and I absentmindedly exceeded the speed limit and got a significant ticket from a state trooper. I was very upset with myself, but Julia quickly cheered me up with some stories about her personal experiences with similar situations. At a time when the world needs more people like Julia, it is so sad that we now have one less.

Posted by Nikki Boutin of Charlestown, New Hampshire:
Julia was one of those people that you meet and never forget. She always smiled and energy poured out of her. I was amazed at what she was doing to make the world a better place. I can only hope that those she knew can carry her passion forward and continue to change the world for the better.


Waleed Shaalan
Waleed Mohammed Shaalan, of Zagazig, Egypt, was married and the father of a 1-year-old son, according to the Muslim Students Association at Virginia Tech.

"He was the simplest and nicest guy I ever knew. We would be studying for our exams and he would go buy a cake and make tea for us," Fahad Pasha, Shaalan's roommate, said on the association's Web site.

Shaalan, 32, was a doctoral student in civil engineering, the university said. The Egyptian Foreign Ministry said in a statement Wednesday that the Egyptian Embassy in Washington was taking steps to fly his body home.

Posted by Amine Chigani of Blacksburg, Virginia:
Waleed was known for his broad smile and wave that he gave everyone. "He was the simplest and nicest guy I ever knew.We would be studying for our exams and he would go buy a cake and make tea for us," said Fahad, Waleed's roommate. Fahad was the last person to have spoken to Waleed, he remarked "He was studying late for an exam the morning of the incident; it was about 4 am when I last saw and spoke to him. We were talking about how amazing it would be once he brought his wife and son to Tech after the summer. I could never have imagined that in 5 hours he´d be gone forever." Waleed left behind Amira, his wife for 3 years, and Khaled his one-year old son. As we express our grief and sympathy for the families of all those directly affected by this senseless tragedy, we honor them through memory and reflection; and Waleed will always be smiling in our hearts.

Posted by Mohammad Imran of Baton Rouge, Louisiana:
I had only known Waleed for a few days, since he was my friend's roommate. Me and my friend took a trip there and just got back on the Thursday before the horrible incident occurred. Waleed seemed like a very nice guy and he wasn't even a rich stuck-up kid like Cho said everybody was. My friend beat him in table tennis in the mosque basement, now he wishes he hadn't beat him. Waleed had a wife and a kid back in Egypt. What are we going to tell them??? He did not deserve what he got. What a world we live in!

Posted by Andy Peterson of Richmond, Virginia:
He was a 32-year-old graduate student from Egypt working on his PhD in Environmental/Civil Engineering. We had class together and did our homework together. He was a great academic mentor always pushing me and everyone to do their best. He was a perfectionist. When we got an A-minus on our work, I would raise my hand to him for a high-five; He would stare at the homework papers in absolute disappointment wondering what we did wrong to avoid getting a perfect mark. Talk about a man who appreciated life. The kind of person who everyday would go out of his way to say good morning to you with a smile on his face like he hadn't seen you in years. Now he is gone and was forced to leave behind a wife and a one-year-old son who will never meet his amazing father. What an awful thing. Waleed Mohammed Shaalan is his name and how lucky I am to have met him and call him my friend.

Posted by Tamer Abdelkader of Kingston, Canada:
Waleed was a very kind guy and he was always smiling. I can not forget when he was kidding with me on my marriage day. When my son Omar was born he came to my home and congratulated me. We were friends in the same department in Zagazig University. He was older then me and I usually ask him about problems that may face me in studying some materials. He always help me and give me his advice. May Allah forgive you Waleed and I ask Allah to give your family the patience

Posted by Hesham Mahgoub of Brookings, South Dakota:
I remember Waleed as a very active and nice student, I know him as one of my remarkable students at Zagazig University, Egypt.

He was very active, smiley, smart student.

May Allah grant his family and friends with patience and make it easy for all of us.

Posted by Youssef Douima of Blacksburg, Virginia:
What must I say, we lost a brother, I do not find the words to express our sadness what I feel, we took a photo last Sunday we had spent a very beautiful day in the squires center. When I saw his name on the list I was not able to believe it. That made 3 months that I know him, he was always smiling, he is so nice so simple. It is a great loss for us all, we made prayer on him today, when I saw his coffin I did not manage to carry out all that occurred. We express our grief and sympathy for the families of all those directly affected by this senseless tragedy, we honor them through memory and reflection; and Waleed will always be smiling in our hearts. One day or another each people will die, we belong to god and we return to God (ina lilahi wa ina ilyhi eaji3oune).


Nicole Regina White
Nicole White graduated from Smithfield High School in 2004, according to The Virginian-Pilot in Norfolk. White, a 20-year-old international studies major, worked at a YMCA as a lifeguard and was an honor student in high school, the newspaper reported.

Posted by Mala Kumar of Blacksburg, Virginia:
I unfortunately didn't get to know Nicole that well, but towards the middle of the semester, she started coming out to our International Relations Organization at Virginia Tech (IROVT) meetings to help out with various projects. We barely knew her, but she sacrificed the better part of her weekend to drive people around, edit papers, and prepare crises for a Model UN conference we hosted in March.

Because of her hard work, she was poised to be an officer for next year, and I have no doubt she would have done an absolutely fantastic job. She made quite the impact considering I didn't know her that well.

Posted by Ron Adamczyk of Fairfax, Virginia:
Nicole,

Thank you for the love, help and comfort that you given to friends when needed.

Thank you for strengthening my faltering belief that there is heaven, as I so look forward to the day that I can say "thanks" and give you a big hug up there.

Please continue to care for your friends and smile at them as they all look up and wonder why such a loving person was taken from them.

I promise that your spirit will live on through the good works of others, starting with me. Thanks again for being there when a friend needed you to be. May God Bless You and your family forever and ever....the world is a better place because of you!!!

GO HOKIES...WE ARE VIRGINIA TECH... WE WILL PREVAIL...NICOLE WHITE SHALL LIVE ON THRU OUR GOOD DEEDS FOREVER AND EVER!!!

Posted by Michael Castle of Hertford, North Carolina:
I was fortunate enough to have the honor and privilege of teaching Nicole in high school. She was bright, intelligent and always seemed to have a smile on her face. She was well liked by all that met her and will be missed by all that knew her. I am sure that all those who met and knew Nicole have her and her family in their prayers.

Posted by Steve Walker of Blacksburg, Virginia:
Nicole was a neighbor of mine who I talked to from time to time when she sat outside on her front steps with her roommate. They both always had their dog around and their fun cat "Jack" around them and when I would be walking by I would chat with them from time to time. She was always friendly and always having to chase her dog down. Even though I did not know Nicole very well I will miss seeing her out on those front steps with her roommate and saying "hello" as not many neighbors talk to each other here.


Brian Bluhm
Brian Bluhm, 25, was an avid fan of the Detroit Tigers, and the team announced his death before Tuesday's game against Kansas City.

"He went to a game last weekend and saw them win, and I'm glad he did," Bluhm's close friend, Michael Marshall of Richmond, Virginia, told the AP.

The master's student in water resources received his undergraduate degree in civil engineering at Virginia Tech and was getting ready to defend his thesis. He already had accepted a job in Baltimore, Maryland, Marshall said.

Bluhm moved from Iowa to Detroit, Michigan, to Louisville, Kentucky, before coming to Virginia. His parents moved to Winchester while he was in school, so Blacksburg became his real home, Marshall said.

Bluhm also loved Virginia Tech's Hokies football team, and a close group of friends often traveled to away games. But Marshall said his faith and work with the Baptist Collegiate Ministries were what his friend loved most.

"Brian was a Christian, and first and foremost, that's what he would want to be remembered as," he told the AP.

Posted by Dennis Hutchinson of Midland, Michigan:
Brian Bluhm was to graduate in a couple weeks with a masters in engineering, but I knew him best as an avid Detroit Tigers fan through the website www.motownsports.com. The thing I will remember most about him is a conversation we had following the September 11th terrorist attacks. Brian wondered about such senseless tragedy, as we all did, & yet he expressed faith that God is still good. Today, I believe he is seeing that God face to face.

Posted by Andrew Stewart of Arlington, Virginia:
Brian Bluhm was one of my roommates during my senior year at Virginia Tech. I will remember him for his integrity and passion. He never wavered from his devout Christianity and was easily one of the most knowledgeable sports fans I've ever known. The numerous tributes to him on several message boards devoted to Detroit Tigers fans attest to the volume of his knowledge and insight.

I had tremendous respect for his taste in music and his lighthearted sense of humor. He and I had several conversations about music that we both liked and we agreed on most things music-related. He gained several nicknames during the year that I lived with him. My favorite of these was Dr. Bluhm, earned because of his tendency to come out of his room early in the morning with frazzled hair, like a mad scientist.

Brian was exceptionally intelligent and talented. He was always willing to help me with classes that he had already taken. It's hard to believe that we've lost such a brilliant and good-hearted young man, but those of us that knew him will continue to carry the impact he left on all of us.

Posted by Phillips Booker of Silver Spring, Maryland:
I only knew Brian for a very short time while he lived with 3 friends of mine that attended Virginia Tech. Brian loved to laugh and seemed to always be smiling or laughing almost all of the time. Brian was a Hokie through and through. He loved the school and he loved the sports. He also loved Detroit and the sports scene around it. Brian will be remembered as a Detroit Tigers fan but most importantly he should be remembered as a good, hardworking and caring person.

Posted by Brian Parker of Richmond, Virginia:
I was Brian's roommate for a year during college. Brian's passion for baseball was always eminent in our apartment ... so much so that he sometimes made all of us sports-loving roommates seem like amateurs. A great guy with the kindest of hearts and a love for Christ that kept a well needed balance in our apartment. Seeing the admiration pour in from all his friends and family literally brings tears to my eyes. I'll miss you, B.

Posted by Philip Wunderly of Norfolk, Virginia:
I had several undergraduate engineering classes with Brian and worked with him specifically on a project for one class. You could always see his face light up when he would recognize you in the hallway and he was always ready to exchange a kind word.

Posted by Kyle Pineda of Miami, Florida:
I knew Brian as a passionate Tigers fan on motownsports.com...though, he should best be remembered as the hardworking, intelligent, bright young man he was. He loved his family, friends, and had a strong faith in God. We can take comfort in knowing Brian is up there with him. I never met Brian in person, but his death has had such an impact on not just myself, but many others online who never met him face to face. He was very knowledgeable and knew what he was talking about. He never talked down to anyone and always showed equal respect towards everyone. The world has lost a great man, but to those who knew Brian either as family, classmate, or online friend, our hearts have only grown because of him. God bless you, Brian.


Henry Lee
Henry J. Lee, also known as Henh Ly, was the ninth of 10 siblings whose family fled to the United States from Vietnam, arriving in Roanoke in 1994. Friends described the diminutive Lee, a 20-year-old freshman computer engineering major, as a serious student who wasn't necessarily a serious person.

A Virginia Tech classmate who lived in Lee's hall, Nathan Spady, described Lee to the AP as "an extremely bubbly guy, always ready to go."

Friends continued to post hundreds of messages and remembrances on Lee's Facebook page since he was shot to death.

"Remember how you used to freak out when I hugged you all the time?" one read. "I'm not so sorry for that anymore."

William Fleming High School plans a Sunday memorial service for Lee who was the school's salutatorian in 2006. At his high school graduation, Lee brought many in the audience to tears with the story of his family's journey to America, principal Susan Lawyer Willis told the AP.

Posted by Mandy Cromer of Roanoke, Virginia:
I just wanted to say that Henry Lee was a very sweet and generous man. I went to school with him for a year or so. He was a very good kid and I know he will be missed.... He loved helping people when he could and I think that he is in a better place. R.I.P. Henry Lee.

Posted by Charlie Crabtree of Roanoke, Virginia:
I am a former teacher at William Fleming High School and was in charge of the student government there. I worked with Henh on several projects that the SGA was involved in and always thought of Henh as a great student! He was the best of what we had to offer. I will miss knowing he is around.

Posted by Kathleen Chrzanowski of Manchester, Massachusetts:
Henh Ly (Henry Lee) was a student in my class during the Summer Scholars program -- in the summer of 1998 in Roanoke. I had 15 kids in my base group, he was one of them. Our coordinator said, "Oh, you're going to love Henh, he is hilarious." He was. I guess he was 11 years old. He arrived and departed each day with a cheerful "Good morning Miss Vance!" and "See you tomorrow Miss Vance!" He was a bright spot - as I look at the picture I took of him with a classmate, I see his quirky sense of humor behind his smile. Henh loved origami. LOVED IT! He taught everyone and anyone who wanted to learn how to make different figures. He could make a paper crane faster than anyone I've ever seen. He made at least one (sometimes 20) paper cranes for me everyday. His smile and laugh were enough to brighten anyone's day.

I didn't get to see him grow up but I am glad to be able to see the pictures of him all grown up. I am proud to have known him.

I wanted to send this to celebrate a precious human being. Please continue to pray for those that were left behind to wonder how these individuals would have made the world a better place.


Partahi Mamora Halomoan Lumbantoruan
Parthai Lumbantoruan's family in Indonesia told the AP that they sold off property and cars to pay his tuition and that his goal was to become a teacher in the United States.

His father says Lumbantoruan, a 34-year-old doctoral student, had been studying civil engineering at Virginia Tech for three years.

His stepmother says he had called almost daily to talk to the family. In their last conversation, he had asked for the latest news on Indonesian politics.

She wants to know how people can bring guns to campus and kill innocent people.

Family members are planning a public burial in the Indonesian capital, Jakarta.

Posted by Alex Rutledge of Greensboro, North Carolina:
Mora was an amazing person, and often looked just as you see him in the picture...smiling and happy. Mora was a Christian from Indonesia, a place where Christians are a small minority. The prejudices Mora had to face as a Christian in Indonesia made his love of this country and its freedoms great.

He was working toward a graduate degree in geotechnical engineering, and planned on moving his family here after he graduated and started his professional career. I never heard Mora say a negative word about anyone, and his smiling face always seemed to uplift those around him. It is sad to see such a great person be taken from us in this way.

Posted by Andrew Bursey of Kennesaw, Georgia:
Known as "Mora" to his friends and professors, Partahi was fixture in our office during the last year of his Master's degree. He quietly and diligently pursued his dream of earning his Ph.D. He enjoyed his studies, and often talked about how fortunate we were to be at Virginia Tech and to be studying in the States. Mora never took a day at Tech for granted. He always had a smile and eased the rigors of graduate school by sharing a laugh.

Posted by Steven Adamchak of Springfield, Virginia:
I did not know Mora very well, but what I will remember about him is his warm, friendly smile every time I said hello or passed by in the hallways of Patton. He was a good person who I wish I had gotten to know better.

Posted by Wishnu Hartandi of Singapore:
Partahi was an alumni of our alma mater Parahyangan Catholic University in Bandung, Indonesia. On behalf Unika Parahyangan Alumnis, I would like to offer the deepest of condolences and grief for the loss of lives at VA Tech. Partahi and others shall always be remembered.

Posted by Matthew Sleep of Blacksburg, Viginia:
Mora always encouraged me to stay for a PhD. I always told him he was crazy and I would never stay, but I did. He had an amazing smile and sense of peace. I am so privileged to have known him.

Posted by Jesse Darden of Richmond, Virginia:
Mora, as we knew him, was a quiet man when he entered the graduate program at Virginia Tech at the beginning of my second semester. In the student library, his desk was a few down from mine. And while he didn't talk much, he did smile a lot. A great big smile.

Friends and I recently remembered a camping trip we all made to celebrate the end of our second semester and the onset of summer. All of the grad students were invited. Mora came out, and although I can't be sure it was his first time, we did show him how to roast marshmallows over the bonfire. Again, his big smile said it all.

Posted by Kami Deputy of Bellevue, Washington:
I had the privilege of knowing Mora at Virginia Tech while studying for a Master's Degree. He was always curious as to other's well being and how their projects were coming along. I too, as many of my classmates will recall, remember his big smile and great attitude every day in our shared graduate office...even on the days we all got a little loud and disrupting, he diligently worked away at his desk. Mora's death is a very unfortunate loss.

Posted by Sotirios Vardakos of New York, New York:
All who knew Mora will miss his friendship and his laugh. Whenever you met him he would always greet you with a kind and warm smile. I remember when he would come by my lab to sit down and chat. His technical discussion was always inspired by great people in the geotechnical engineering profession. Our conversations for Indonesia and specifically for the Formula 1 Championship are memorable.

To our friend Mora and all the people who tragically lost their lives at Tech, fare well and rest in peace.

Posted by Todd Griffith of Charleston, West Virginia:
Mora Lumbantoruan was such an inspiring person. I never saw him without a big smile on his face. He had an amazing work ethic, was so intelligent and such an asset to anyone who had the privilege of working with him or just being around him. I am happy to have gotten the chance to know him while we were at Virginia Tech.

Posted by Hans, Parulian Aritonang of Jakarta, Indonesia:
Mora was a very good friend of mine. I remember how he helped me and my wife arrange my wedding, he is very very helpful and supportive. It is a sad day for anyone who knew him. His big smile says it all indeed. His faith in his Saviour unquestionable. He just love Jesus very very much. I offer condolences to his family, His father, mother, his oldest brother Bindu who is also my friend and his youngest brother.

Posted by Regina n Bulan Soedarmara-Panjaitan of Jakarta, Indonesia:
I knew Mora as an optimistic person, extremely polite, gentle, unselfish and kind. I'll miss him as a cousin. Not once he said bad things about people, not once he give up on pursuing his study in VT. Not once he forget all of his cousin birthdays, on their birthday he will call and congratulate even though it cost him quite a lot to call overseas. And he will never miss out reading his bible. He always said "you have to follow Jesus 100 percent not even 99.9 percent." He is very faithful in his faith. He's been struggling to get his visa from US embassy to go to United States for his study but he never gave up and keep on trying. He always trust all his plan to the Lord. We will miss you and cherish you always in our heart. You leave us with a warm and beautiful memories. Goodbye Mora...we love you.


Leslie G. Sherman
Leslie Sherman, an avid traveler, was headed to Russia this summer to study, her grandmother, Gerry Adams, told the AP.

Sherman, a sophomore history and international studies student from Springfield, Virginia, had visited Boston, Massachusetts, and London with her mother, and she visited her grandparents in Kennewick, Washington, last month for spring break, Adams said.

Sherman, who was named after her grandfather, Leslie, loved reading and socializing with her "gaggle" of more than 15 cousins spread out at colleges across the country, Adams said. She text-messaged one of them the evening before she died.

"She was so happy. Life was going so well for her," said Adams, who described the family as "just beside themselves" with grief.

Posted by Ronald Maggiano of West Springfield, Virginia:
I was fortunate to teach Leslie Sherman in my Advanced Placement European History course at West Springfield High School. She was a wonderful student with a creative mind and a great sense of humor. Academically, she was brilliant without being "bookish." During her senior year, she served as president of our History Honor Society and was awarded the Social Studies Department Award for outstanding scholarship. She also ran on our school cross country team for four straight years, so she was truly a gifted student-athlete. After graduation, Leslie frequently visited her former teachers at West Springfield, and we were not surprised to learn that she was majoring in history and international relations at Virginia Tech. Her death is a shock to all of us at West Springfield High School, and our thoughts and prayers go out to Leslie's family. She will be missed but never forgotten.

Posted by Amy LaCrosse of Springfield, Virginia:
Leslie was an absolutely incredible friend. I took Applied History with her senior year of High School and she never ever failed to brighten my day. We took several field trips together for class and on one particular occasion, we rode down to Monticello with her dad and a couple of the guys in class. She had amazing insight and was always eager to learn. She was an amazing runner and was part of the WSHS cross country team for all 4 years of high school. She was an avid historian and hoped to study in Russia this summer. Leslie was an absolute joy to be around. It was no secret that her friendship brightened the lives of SO many people. Leslie was more than a good student, a good runner, a good person and a good friend. She will be sorely missed by the VT community as well as the WSHS community and all who had the privilege and honor of knowing her.

Posted by Sarah Faber of Charlottesville, Virginia:
Leslie is one of those people in your life you will never forget, and surely never forget after what has happened. She was an amazing person who never failed to have a smile on her face and cheer you up. She had a passion for photography and history and of course running and I was and am now more than ever honored that I was able to know her. There are really no words to describe the loss of such an outgoing, wonderful, caring, brilliant, and amazing person. It is a shame that the rest of the world will not get to know Leslie Sherman, and it's heartbreaking to know that I will never again see her goofy smile or hear her laugh. But she will always be in the hearts of those she touched, we will never forget her.

Posted by Matt Ortiz of Blacksburg, Virginia:
I have been getting frustrated that so little has been said of Leslie considering what a great person she was. I wish I had known her better and could expound on her as much as she deserves. But this I do know, she was a history and international studies major and was greatly interested in Russian history. She was also planning on taking a summer trip to Russia for the State Department. Leslie also loved to run, she ran the 2006 Marine Corps Marathon and was a member of her high school's (West Springfield, Virginia) cross country and track and field team. Leslie's beautiful smile will be greatly missed, she was such a beautiful person and had such a wonderful spirit.

Posted by Jordan Chang of Blacksburg, Virginia:
Leslie was an AMAZING woman. I worked with her at the West End Market dining hall and she always came over to say something witty and funny to make me laugh. She always had a smile on her face and you couldn't miss her in a crowd. She was also an avid runner. One of her most proud moments was when she completed the Marine Corps Marathon this past fall in a time of 4:02:28. She would always tell me she was "so sloooow" but eventually gave in to my repeated pleas for her to join the triathlon team. She sent me an e-mail on Saturday the 14th telling me that she was "finally taking action on my interest in the Triathlon club."

I have a fond memory of her from just last week. I was headed to my anatomy class on Tuesday the 10th at 3:30 p.m. On my way in I saw her running by, we said hello and then she kept on running. After that hour long class I headed home, sat around for a little while then headed out to the grocery store down the road. On the way there I saw her STILL RUNNING. The time elapsed had been at LEAST 2 hours. I talked with her about this the next day and she simply said this to me. "Oh yeah, that was when I really didn't feel like doing my homework...so I went for a nice little run instead." She followed up her words with a giggle and flashing her unforgettable smile.

Leslie will never be forgotten as a member of the West End family, Hokie family, or the running community here in Blacksburg.

Posted by Brittany Rytter of Baltimore, Maryland:
Leslie was an incredible girl with a heart of gold and a smile that could end wars. I was lucky enough to have traveled with her to New Orleans over Thanksgiving break to help with Katrina relief work. She had an unparalleled zest for life and was an unconditional source of energy and vivacity. No matter how daunting the task at hand, she was always willing and ready to jump in head first and make a difference. She will always be in my heart, and I know that right now she is trying to explain to heaven what a Hokie is with her big smile, exaggerated hand movements and perhaps even a little dance. We will miss you forever.

REST IN PEACE

[TripleDipping]

What a rambling load of crap from that loon. While we have the freedom of information, I question the reason of showing the videos ad nauseum on TV... you KNOW some kid out there will be "inspired" to do the same.

It is so sad that this guy was allowed to buy guns when a court already decided that he has mental issues. wtf...

[Nemesis]

My wife is a psychologist...she said "teasing" and "verbal abuse" is an epidemic in the educational realm, specifically K-12. The degree of hatred that some kids have towards others is just scary as she describes it to me. I remember being teased but today it is taken to another level. The worst part about it, her clients feel totally helpless because some schools have a NO TOLERANCE for "tattling"

My point is, as sick and twisted (which doesn't do justice for a description) as this monster was, there is a message. IMO, it seems we are jumping to solutions that don't address the problems that caused this in the first place...i.e. FOX News, CNN, etc..of "expert" analysis.

We owe it to the victims of this travesty to make some changes at the level WAY before the point where this monster bought a gun(s).

[mcsluggo]

Liviu Librescu, 76, was a Holocaust survivor who, his son said, will be remembered as a hero. He "blocked the doorway with his body and asked the students to flee," Joe Librescu told the AP. "Students started opening windows and jumping out."

holy crap.

some people simply are heroic, period. I actually cried reading that. wow.

[Smiles]

It's still so hard to believe. Each morning I wake up and after a few moments, I remember what's happened... and I ache for the families who wake up to a nightmare I can't fathom.

I'm amazed by how many people are impacted - so many countries and states and communities..

[SaltwaterChaffy]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0cSuidxE8os

[Murphy3]

Originally Posted by Nemesis

My wife is a psychologist...she said "teasing" and "verbal abuse" is an epidemic in the educational realm, specifically K-12. The degree of hatred that some kids have towards others is just scary as she describes it to me. I remember being teased but today it is taken to another level. The worst part about it, her clients feel totally helpless because some schools have a NO TOLERANCE for "tattling"

My point is, as sick and twisted (which doesn't do justice for a description) as this monster was, there is a message. IMO, it seems we are jumping to solutions that don't address the problems that caused this in the first place...i.e. FOX News, CNN, etc..of "expert" analysis.

We owe it to the victims of this travesty to make some changes at the level WAY before the point where this monster bought a gun(s).

From what I can gather from my siblings and from my own personal experience, teasing and verbal abuse has always been an 'epidemic'. I can remember 25 years ago when I was 5 and waiting for my father to come pick me up from school... he was running a little late and a high school kid came and told me that my father had died in a car wreck about a block from where I lived... Of course, I was smart enough to know better.. but this type has gone on forever as far as I'm concerned. I can remember some things from when I was younger... kids have been absolutely brutal to others for years. It's nothing new. The main thing that has changed is the outlet for some of the teased that are sick and twisted to express their anger with society...

[Murphy3]

One of the things that's struck me is how horrificly sad it must be for those families that came to the US for a better life only to have this tragedy at an institution of higher learning make them completely second guess their decisions to come here...

[Nemesis]

Originally Posted by Murphy3

From what I can gather from my siblings and from my own personal experience, teasing and verbal abuse has always been an 'epidemic'. I can remember 25 years ago when I was 5 and waiting for my father to come pick me up from school... he was running a little late and a high school kid came and told me that my father had died in a car wreck about a block from where I lived... Of course, I was smart enough to know better.. but this type has gone on forever as far as I'm concerned. I can remember some things from when I was younger... kids have been absolutely brutal to others for years. It's nothing new. The main thing that has changed is the outlet for some of the teased that are sick and twisted to express their anger with society...

Yes, I can agree with that to a certain extent. But, my point was we are trying to solve this at a superficial level, Murphy. This guy was a monster, but he wasn't born a monster and he didn't become a monster because he was able to buy a gun. You are right about the wrong existential outlets for kids these days. Couped up in a room in the dark playing Counter-Strike at 3 am in the "all pistol" or "all knife" map could have easily played a role...(not saying it did)

This is complicated...so complicated that educated people are becoming narrow minded in their views of how to solve this. They forget that this didn't start with a purchase. It started early, real early... which is where your point really makes sense as I said above. We need to provide better outlets and better solutions for kids that are having problems at such an early age.

[DubOverdose]

Originally Posted by SaltwaterChaffy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0cSuidxE8os

The best speach I have heard in a LONG time. I'll admit it, it even made me cry.

[come_on_now]

Did anyone see that dumb dude on American Idol dying with every sentence after his pathetic performance then play the Virginia Tech card to try and get sympathy votes?

How pathetic.

[Murphy3]

Originally Posted by Nemesis

Yes, I can agree with that to a certain extent. But, my point was we are trying to solve this at a superficial level, Murphy. This guy was a monster, but he wasn't born a monster and he didn't become a monster because he was able to buy a gun. You are right about the wrong existential outlets for kids these days. Couped up in a room in the dark playing Counter-Strike at 3 am in the "all pistol" or "all knife" map could have easily played a role...(not saying it did)

This is complicated...so complicated that educated people are becoming narrow minded in their views of how to solve this. They forget that this didn't start with a purchase. It started early, real early... which is where your point really makes sense as I said above. We need to provide better outlets and better solutions for kids that are having problems at such an early age.

I know that it starts really early. My only point was that the teasing and all that is nothing new.. It has been brutal at schools in the U.S. for decades... I strongly believe that it's less now that it was 30-40 years ago. So kids are teased and harrassed more now than the couple of decades after integration first occurred? Nope. The students turning into monsters partly because of being teased occurs for a variety of reasons as I'm sure you're well aware... ... was just making a point about the teasing.. Let your wife know that she was wrong with her statement.

[Smiles]

Dear Murphy, Maybe we could just let people speak their assesment and thoughts from their corner of the planet, and let it roll by unacknowledged. I appreciate you mentioning that a lot of people are teased, or worse, in school/life, yet still manage not to kill anyone. If you feel an ongoing discussion is necessary, please consider another thread, if you don't mind. Again, I appreciate what you were saying, but a direct challenge may hijack the purpose of the thread. I may be out of line here, and if so, I apologize.

[Dr.Zoidberg]

Large condolence: http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/04/20/vte...ing/index.html

Ceremonies nationwide to mourn massacre victims

Story Highlights

• NEW: Nationwide memorials scheduled Friday to honor VT victims
• Victim's father calls Cho's videos "a second assault on our children"
• Governor declares Friday a day of mourning; alumni organize "Hokie Hope" day
• Great-aunt describes Cho as "cold," says mother was always worried about

BLACKSBURG, Virginia (CNN) -- Four days after the deadliest shooting on a U.S. college campus, people nationwide prepared to remember victims of the Virginia Tech massacre with candlelight vigils, moments of silence and the tolling of bells.

Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine has declared Friday a day of mourning, and alumni of Virginia Tech have organized a "Hokie Hope" day, asking all alumni, students and friends of the school to wear the university's colors -- orange and maroon.

At noon, mourners will pause for a bell-ringing and a moment of silence across the university grounds, including the Drill Field, where a makeshift memorial honors the 32 students and faculty who were killed. Mourners continued to gathered at the memorial Friday morning.

Some of them wrote messages of hope, love and support on large boards that had been moved beneath tents due to Thursday's rain. Nearby, a handful of students relit candles. (Honoring the victims)

Reading the messages on the boards moved many visitors to tears.

"I'm glad I hugged you at our last practice," read one message to slain student Reema Samaha, a dancer. (Watch how the memorial has become the campus' center of gravity)

Another victim, engineering professor Kevin Granata, will be remembered at a public memorial service at 2 p.m. ET at the Blacksburg Presbyterian Church.

Granata was the father of three children -- two sons, ages 13 and 12, and a daughter, 10. (Read how Granata was a top biomechanics researcher working on cerebral palsy)

Gov. Kaine has invited communities across the nation to organize their own ceremonies Friday to remember those killed in the nation's worst shooting spree.

Memorial services were scheduled in cities across the nation, including Arlington, Texas; Seattle, Washington; Georgetown, Kentucky; Washington, D.C. and Virginia Beach, Virginia.

Candlelight vigils were set for Santa Monica Beach, California; Vancouver, Washington; Middletown, Pennsylvania; Charleston, West Virginia and St. Mary's City, Maryland.

Bells will toll to honor the victims across the states of Georgia and Colorado at 12 p.m. ET, and residents are being asked to observe a moment of silence.

The observances coincided with Friday's eighth anniversary of the massacre by two students at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado. (Read more about how Colorado plans to join Friday's day of mourning)

For some, sorrow was mixed with anger, not only at Cho Seung-Hui for his rampage and his multimedia screed, but also at the media for airing his last recorded words and images.

News outlets were urged to focus on the victims of the shootings rather than the twisted ramblings of the man who gunned them down before killing himself as police closed in.

Peter Read, father of victim Mary Read, pleaded for media outlets to stop broadcasting the images that Cho mailed between the day's two shooting incidents.

"It's a second assault on us," he said. "It's a second assault on our children. Please put the focus back where it belongs: on these wonderful, vibrant, young human beings who were bringing so much to this world." (Watch how the airing of Cho's messages sparked an uproar)

Doctoral student Ken Stanton, 29, said he resented that Cho was getting airtime while many of the victims, such as his friend, Jeremy Herbstritt, remained anonymous.

"I'm sick of it," he said. "It's like you can't get away from it -- every time I walk by a TV, there it is." (Read more about Herbstritt)

Great-aunt calls Cho 'idiot'

In 2005, Cho was declared mentally ill by a Virginia special justice, who found he was "an imminent danger" to himself, a court document states.

Cho's great-aunt, Kim Yang-soon, described Cho as "very cold" and said her niece was constantly worried about him, according to a translation from The Associated Press.

"Who would have known he would cause such trouble, the idiot," Kim said from her home in South Korea.
Cho's family left South Korea when he was 8 years old, settling in Centreville, Virginia. Some there said that Cho was picked on in his younger years, but that he wasn't alone in that respect.

"We called him the trombone kid, because he would just walk with his trombone all alone," Centreville resident John Williams said, adding that Cho was so quiet that he was an "easy target."

But experts said that Cho's messages provide evidence of a much bigger problem.

"The grandiosity, the persecutory beliefs that he expressed certainly are consistent with psychosis that we usually will see as part of a mental illness," said Dr. Todd Cox of Johns Hopkins University. (Watch why warning signs don't always predict behavior)

In the messages he mailed to NBC, Cho referred to the two students responsible for the Columbine killings in 1999 as "martyrs."

Law enforcement agencies across the nation have received about a dozen copycat threats to schools across the country in the wake of the Virginia Tech massacre, according to the FBI.

The university said Thursday that it will award posthumous degrees to the slain students at the scheduled May 11 commencement.

Police appear to be trying to determine whether there was any link between Cho and Emily Hilscher, a 19-year-old woman who was shot to death at the West Ambler Johnston dormitory and may have been the first victim of Cho's killing spree.

Police have collected Hilscher's cell phone, laptop and a few other pieces of personal property "and they are being analyzed as you would expect," a law enforcement source familiar with the investigation confirmed.

CNN's Michael Sefanov and Sean Callebs contributed to this report.

Copyright 2007 CNN

[Nemesis]

Smiles, what is the purpose of this thread?

I believe that the discussion taking place is relevant to the "Massacre at Virginia Tech"...

Murphy, your statement is a blanket assesment from your living room and if you have kids, maybe from them. My wife's conclusion comes from working with kids all over the state as well as 2 other states. I guess you didn't read any of my posts AFTER I disagreed with one thing. I said you were right about the outlets.. which in turn, can be a main reason why kids are effected by verbal abuse more today than when we were growing up. Me personally, for example, may have suffered only from low self-esteem from being teased, where as now these kids just internalize and _______fill in the blank on what happens from there. Luckily, there are people like my wife with a gift of working with kids.

[MavsWiLLHaVeRinGs]

It's a sad deal. It just show you never know what's going to happen. Best to live life guilt free.

[Murphy3]

Originally Posted by Smiles

Dear Murphy, Maybe we could just let people speak their assesment and thoughts from their corner of the planet, and let it roll by unacknowledged. I appreciate you mentioning that a lot of people are teased, or worse, in school/life, yet still manage not to kill anyone. If you feel an ongoing discussion is necessary, please consider another thread, if you don't mind. Again, I appreciate what you were saying, but a direct challenge may hijack the purpose of the thread. I may be out of line here, and if so, I apologize.

Your request is noted. I have taken it into consideration and decided not to follow your request. Why not discuss it in this thread? This thread is about the Massacre at Virginia Tech.. As far as I'm concerned, that can include discussion about what might have led to this... and what can/could have been done to prevent this. If it means that discussions occur in this thread where people both agree and disagree, so be it. It's too bad that you do not approve.. but frankly I don't see the justification for your request.

[Murphy3]

Originally Posted by Nemesis

Smiles, what is the purpose of this thread?

I believe that the discussion taking place is relevant to the "Massacre at Virginia Tech"...

Murphy, your statement is a blanket assesment from your living room and if you have kids, maybe from them. My wife's conclusion comes from working with kids all over the state as well as 2 other states. I guess you didn't read any of my posts AFTER I disagreed with one thing. I said you were right about the outlets.. which in turn, can be a main reason why kids are effected by verbal abuse more today than when we were growing up. Me personally, for example, may have suffered only from low self-esteem from being teased, where as now these kids just internalize and _______fill in the blank on what happens from there. Luckily, there are people like my wife with a gift of working with kids.

It's not an assessment from my living room. It is an assessment based upon my time spent inside of schools throughout the past couple of years....from elementary schools to my on-going education at the graduate level... from my work to re-search and to my continuing education. I also believe that you might not have portrayed your wife's thoughts in a manner that are 100% congruent with whatever research she has done.. even if that is how she conveyed it, she probably meant it comparably to a specific time ranging from a particular year to another..but maybe not comparable to others in the past...

And Nemesis, I'm not disagreeing with everything that you said in your post by any stretch of the imagination...

I 100% agree that there are many, many things that factor into a child growing into the type of monster that we saw with this particular incident. What approach do we take as a society to curb such disasters? Just throwing in metal detectors and limiting access to schools won't do much. It'll just change the setting in which the atrocities occur... Obviously, something has to be done to attempt to curb the development of such monsters as well.

[rabbitproof]

Originally Posted by Nemesis

Yes, I can agree with that to a certain extent. But, my point was we are trying to solve this at a superficial level, Murphy. This guy was a monster, but he wasn't born a monster and he didn't become a monster because he was able to buy a gun. You are right about the wrong existential outlets for kids these days. Couped up in a room in the dark playing Counter-Strike at 3 am in the "all pistol" or "all knife" map could have easily played a role...(not saying it did)

This is complicated...so complicated that educated people are becoming narrow minded in their views of how to solve this. They forget that this didn't start with a purchase. It started early, real early... which is where your point really makes sense as I said above. We need to provide better outlets and better solutions for kids that are having problems at such an early age.

Word. People aren't born this way. Something shuts down and something else powers up. I don't put it on video games, rap artists or none of that. Something in our society isolates us. It's epidemic and marketing even has a word for it - "cocooning". No surprise, some people react poorly to it.

This dude taking his own life won't stop future occurances. He connected with the Colombine kids and some kid in the future will connect with this wild ass and the Colombine duo if something doesn't change on a larger scale.

[Murphy3]

No, the dude taking his life and receiving all of the national attention will glorify his actions to some in a sick and twisted way.

[Dr.Zoidberg]

You also can feel sorry for Cho´s family: http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/04/21/vte...ing/index.html

Cho's family 'so very sorry' for Tech tragedy

Story Highlights

• Students say they plan to return to class Monday, seeking "normalcy"
• Gunman's family: We are "living a nightmare"
• Baseball game first campus athletic event since massacre
• Sources: Cho fired as many as 225 shots, using 17 clips

BLACKSBURG, Virginia (CNN) -- The family of Seung-Hui Cho apologized Friday for the devastation he caused in a shooting rampage at Virginia Tech.

"He has made the world weep. We are living a nightmare," his sister, Sun-Kyung Cho, said in a written statement issued on behalf of her family in their first public comments about the shooting.

"Our family is so very sorry for my brother's unspeakable actions. It is a terrible tragedy for all of us." (Read more about the family's statement)

Sun-Kyung Cho said her family has been praying for the victims and their families, listing by name in her statement all 32 people who died. (Watch as the killer's family apologizes for so many lives "cut short")

But in a sign of life slowly moving toward some sense of routine, the first athletic event since the massacre was held Friday evening on the sports-crazy campus, when Virginia Tech and the University of Miami took the field for a baseball game.

Before the game started, the crowd at English Field observed 32 seconds of silence, one second for each of Cho's victims. The University of Miami also donated $10,000 to a memorial fund for the victims' families. An English Field record crowd of 3,132 witnessed the emotional 11-9 victory for Miami.

Amid remembrances Friday, Virginia Tech President Charles Steger announced that classes will resume on Monday.

"We will move forward in a way that will honor the memory of those we have lost," said Steger in a letter to the school's 26,000 students.

Students were given the options of withdrawing or taking their current grades without finishing the term. Those interviewed on Friday overwhelmingly said they planned to return to class at Virginia Tech.

"I just want to get back to normal and forget about Cho and just get back to the normality of going to school, finishing work and just living as a Hokie," said Karan Grewal, who shared a dorm with Cho for nine months prior to the shootings.

"We all need a sense of normalcy, of routine back," said student Tricia Sangalang. "This our first step to moving forward."

Police say Cho, armed with two handguns, entered Norris Hall on Monday morning and shot 45 people, killing 30 and wounding 15, before turning the gun on himself.

Two hours earlier, two other students were shot at a dormitory across campus. Police have tied one of Cho's guns to both shooting scenes.

Law enforcement sources told CNN Friday that Cho fired off as many as 225 shots during his rampage.

Another law enforcement source familiar with the investigation said most of the victims were shot at least three times. (Watch what officials hope to learn from their investigation)

'Hopeless, helpless and lost'

Cho's parents and sister have been in seclusion since the shootings, and, until Friday, had not made any public comment.

In her statement, Sun-Kyung Cho said her family has been praying for the victims and their families.
She said the family feels "hopeless, helpless and lost" and had no idea he was capable of such violence.

"Each of these people had so much love, talent and gifts to offer, and their lives were cut short by a horrible and senseless act," she said. "There is much justified anger and disbelief at what my brother did, and a lot of questions are left unanswered."

Wendy Adams, whose niece, Leslie Sherman, died in the rampage, told The Associated Press about the family's statement: "I'm not so generous to be able to forgive him for what he did. But I do feel for the family. I do feel sorry for them."

The Cho family, who emigrated from South Korea in 1992, lived in Centreville, Virginia, in the Washington, D.C., suburbs, where the parents worked in a dry-cleaning business. Sun-Kyung Cho, like her brother, grew up mostly in the United States; she is a graduate of Princeton University.

Investigators Friday continued to try to determine if there was any link between Seung-Hui Cho and Emily Hilscher, 19, one of the students killed at the West Ambler Johnston dorm. According to a search warrant, investigators are examining Hilscher's laptop computer and cell phone.

Police have also filed warrants looking for records from Cho's cell phone, the AP reported.
"Seung-Hui Cho is known to have communicated by cellular telephone and may have communicated with others concerning his plans to carry out attacks on students and faculty at Virginia Tech," the affidavit said, according to the AP.

In late 2005, two other female students at Virginia Tech complained to police that Cho had been harassing them, although neither pursued charges against him.

The bodies of all 33 people who died Monday, including Cho, had been released to their families as of Friday morning, according to Larry Hill, a spokesman for the state health department.

Day of mourning

Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine had declared Friday a day of mourning, with a moment of silence observed at noon across the commonwealth.

At an interfaith prayer service in Richmond, Kaine said the tragedy had "touched hearts around the world," and he urged people "to hold on to that spirit of hope and community, celebrating the lives that have been lost."

Virtually every state across the nation sounded bells and had moments of silence for the victims, including Colorado, which was remembering the eighth anniversary of the shooting deaths at Columbine High School.

In Washington, members of Congress stopped their work to observe a moment of silence, and church services were held across the country.

Virginia Tech alumni had called on people to wear the school colors of maroon and orange Friday to commemorate "Hokie Hope" day. Hundreds of people heeded that call and came to the campus Drill Field in front of Norris Hall, bringing flowers and candles to makeshift memorials.

Among the memorial's mementos are simple stones decorated with flowers and American flags. Each stone represents a victim, and a 33rd one was added for Seung-Hui Cho, the 23-year-old gunman.

"I feel bad that you did not get help that you so desperately needed," read a handwritten note left by the stone. It was signed, "God bless, Barbara."

CNN's Brian Todd, Kevin Bohn and Brianna Keilar contributed to this report.

What hate he must have had.