Tag: school shooting

  • VT shooter left behind note

    VT shooter left behind note

    Sources: College gunman left note:

    According to the article, Virginia Tech gunman Cho Seung-Hui left behind a disturbing note in his dorm room.

    The note included a rambling list of grievances, according to sources. They said Cho also died with the words “Ismail Ax” in red ink on the inside of one of his arms.

    Cho had shown recent signs of violent, aberrant behavior, according to an investigative source, including setting a fire in a dorm room and allegedly stalking some women.

    A note believed to have been written by Cho was found in his dorm room that railed against “rich kids,” “debauchery” and “deceitful charlatans” on campus.

    Welcome to college Junior. Why in the blue hell did this mean that 32 innocent victims had to lose their lives?

    Some faculty members were concerned about Seung-Hui’s state of mental health…

    Professor Carolyn Rude, chairwoman of the university’s English department, said she did not personally know the gunman. But she said she spoke with Lucinda Roy, the department’s director of creative writing, who had Cho in one of her classes and described him as “troubled.”

    “There was some concern about him,” Rude said. “Sometimes, in creative writing, people reveal things and you never know if it’s creative or if they’re describing things, if they’re imagining things or just how real it might be. But we’re all alert to not ignore things like this.”

    She said Cho was referred to the counseling service, but she said she did not know when, or what the outcome was.

    Obviously, it wasn’t successful.

    And once again, we have another shooter who decided to take the coward’s way out by killing himself before authorities could take him into custody.

    I can describe Seung-Hui in the same three words I used to describe all other school shooters. Cowardly fucking scumbag.

  • VT Shooter identified

    VT Shooter identified

    Va. Tech Gunman Named:

    Short article…

    Virginia Tech officials today identified the Virginia Tech student who killed 32 people and then himself on the Blacksburg campus yesterday as 23-year-old Cho Seung-Hui of Centreville.

    Cho was a South Korean native who had immigrated to this country, the university announced on its Web site this morning. He was a senior majoring in English, and lived in a dorm on campus, officials said.

    Last night while I was on Shaun OMac Radio. I said that the gunman was from China, as it was reported that his student visa was issued in Shanghai.

    I will be on Shaun OMac Radio again tonight at 9:30 ET.

    Last night’s show can be heard below.

    (It’s long since been deleted.)

  • Virginia Tech shootings

    Virginia Tech shootings

    I know everyone is expecting me to post about the shootings at Virginia Tech. To be honest with you all, I just returned from a week’s vacation without internet access. I still have a lot of e-mail to catch up on and a lot of information to process. But I will be posting about it.

    Also, I’m hoping to be a guest again on Shaun OMac Radio tonight at 9:30 ET to discuss the VT shootings.

  • Bartley pleads guilty and is sentenced

    Bartley pleads guilty and is sentenced

    Boy agrees to 45 years in school killing:

    15-year-old Kenneth Bartley Jr., the gunman in the Campbell County High shooting, has pleaded guilty to the murder of Assistant Principal Ken Bruce and the attempted murders of Principal Gary Seale and Assistant Principal Jim Pierce.

    Bartley was sentenced to 45 years in prison on a charge of second-degree murder and two charges of second degree attempted murder. Bartley was looking at life sentences if he went to trial.

    Personally, I’m pleased with the sentence. I feel that justice has been done.

  • Castillo e-mail probably inadmissible as well

    Castillo e-mail probably inadmissible as well

    Castillo e-mail can’t be linked:

    Just a follow-up to yesterday’s post about the computer evidence being suppressed in the Alvaro Castillo proceedings. Since the computers were ruled inadmissible, the e-mail that Castillo sent to Columbine High School Principal Frank DeAngelis cannot be linked to Castillo.

    Again, the videos should be all the prosecution needs.

  • Evidence suppressed in Castillo case

    Evidence suppressed in Castillo case

    Hearing Held for Suspected Teen Killer:

    The computers seized from the house of Alvaro Rafael Castillo have been ruled inadmissible as evidence. The defense argued that the computers were not listed as part of the search warrant, and the judge agreed. Prosecutors aren’t too worried though, saying there wasn’t much evidence on the computers. Not only that, but considering he basically confessed on videotape to killing his father before sending the tapes to the media, I wouldn’t be worried either.

    The next hearing is set for April 25th where Castillo will probably learn if he’s facing the death penalty or not.

  • Organ donation fund named after Platte Canyon victim

    Organ donation fund named after Platte Canyon victim

    Keyes’ organ donation legacy gets signed into law:

    The governor of Colorado signed a bill into law yesterday that extended the state’s organ donation project for another 10 years.

    The law also named the program the Emily Keyes Organ and Tissue Donation Awareness Fund after the only fatal victim in the Platte Canyon High School shooting. According to the article, her donated corneas restored the sight of a man in my own state of North Carolina.

    At least something good was able to come out of a pointless tragedy.

  • New Amish school to open

    New Amish school to open

    New Amish school to open after shooting:

    On Monday, a new school for the Amish children of Nickel Mines, Pennsylvania will open.

    The new school replaces the one where Charles Carl Roberts barricaded himself inside and shot many of the students inside, killing several before turning the gun on himself.

    The new school has been aptly named The New Hope Amish School.

  • Platte Canyon report

    Platte Canyon report

    The Colorado Bureau of Investigation’s report on the Platte Canyon High School hostage crisis and shooting can be viewed or downloaded here. (.pdf file)

    It’s just basically a more detailed description of what we already knew. That this was a random act of destruction carried out by a sick individual.

  • Parents of Emily Keyes release statement

    Parents of Emily Keyes release statement

    Keyes family statement regarding CBI report on the Platte Canyon High School shooting:

    The parents of Emily Keyes, the lone victim fatality in the Platte-Canyon High School siege, have released a statement about the CBI’s report on how the police handled the situation. Normally, I don’t like to post whole articles, but this is something that needs to be read and if the Rocky Mountain News page expires, I’d think it should be out in the public longer.

    For some it may be difficult to accept. The right actions at the right time by the right people may not have the right outcome. When what we hoped for didn’t happen, some may want to find fault. But there is no fault to be found in the command decisions made given the information and behavior presented. There is no fault to be found in the courage and speed of their response.

    From our family, there is only respect. Our review of the CBI report confirms this belief.

    Tonight our family met with Sheriff Fred Wegner, agents of the CBI and other officials to review the summary report, being released tomorrow, March 27th, regarding the events of September 27th.

    Our family read the summary and viewed other materials being released.

    A tough read: but still reaffirming.

    Law enforcement and school administration did all of the right things.

    Law enforcement response, not just to the school but to the classroom was around 3 minutes from the first 911 call.

    The kids at the school were on top of things also. Several were on their way to the office to report a stranger in their midst, before the first shot was fired.

    There were seven heroes in that room. And a coward with a gun. The Awesome Six are still with us. Please respect their grace, beauty and privacy as these young women continue with their lives. It is OK to let some details of that day fade.

    In the months since Emily was killed, some extraordinary good has occurred. And that is Emily’s legacy. Random and Deliberate Acts of Kindness continue to occur. The community of Bailey is a little more tight knit. And sometimes it feels like our town lines extend shore to shore.

    When we remember September 27th, it’s the text message Emily sent: “I love u guys.” It is our hope that’s the message you remember as well.

    We ask the Press that, if possible, during the upcoming coverage of this report you don’t highlight the actions of a deranged gunman. His name doesn’t need to be mentioned; it is there enough in the report.

    The best people did the best of things. The outcome could have been far more grave. We as a family know this and appreciate this.

    Real life doesn’t always have a happy ending.

    John-Michael, Ellen and Casey Keyes

    The CBI report should be out later today.