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Virginia Tech tragedy

Police: Cho fired 170 shots in 9 minutes

By ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published April 26, 2007

BLACKSBURG, Va. - The massacre inside a chained-shut Norris Hall went on for nine minutes as Seung-Hui Cho fired 170 rounds, killing 30 people before shooting himself in the head, police revealed Wednesday. But they said investigators still don't know why Cho launched the bloody attack on his fellow students at Virginia Tech.

"We talk about possible motives and theories and whatnot, but we don't have any evidence to suggest anything," said Col. W. Steven Flaherty, State Police superintendent.

He said investigators had searched computer files, cell phone records and e-mails, and had compiled 500 pieces of evidence from Norris Hall alone. So far, nothing indicated a motive or close link between the loner and his victims, Flaherty said.

Flaherty, who is overseeing the investigative team, said police have been unable to answer the most vexing question: Why the rampage began at the West Ambler Johnston dormitory, and why 18-year-old freshman Emily Hilscher was the first victim.

Police searched Hilscher's e-mails and phone records looking for a link. While Flaherty would not discuss exactly what police found, he said neither Cho's nor Hilscher's records have revealed a connection.

Frustrating investigators' efforts is the fact that Cho revealed himself to so few people. Even family members have said they rarely heard him speak.

"I guess the thing that is most startling to me, I say startling, surprising, is a young man who's 23 years old, that's been here for a while, that seemed to not know anybody," Flaherty said.

Cho memorial removed, returns

BLACKSBURG, Va. - A memorial to gunman Seung-Hui Cho that was mysteriously added to the row of 32 stones on the main campus lawn at Virginia Tech was removed this week, then restored by Wednesday morning.

Student organization Hokies United put 32 "Hokie Stones" in a semicircle in front of the administration building to honor the 27 students and five faculty members Cho killed April 16. The 33rd stone appeared later in the week.

Cho's stone was gone by Monday morning, with a small American flag in its place. On Wednesday morning, there were 33 stones again.

[Last modified April 26, 2007, 02:22:15]