TRAGEDY STRIKES CAMPUS AND SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES
Written By: Derek Page, News Assistant
Virginia Tech experienced another tragic shooting, Thursday, December 8. The incident has left one campus police officer and one unidentified victim dead, reports confirmed just before 2 p.m.
“Everyone is on edge and freaking out, pretty much,” said Abigail Garty, a junior at Virginia Tech.
The suspect is still at large and was last seen fleeing on foot. Witnesses described the suspect as a “white male, gray sweatpants, gray hat with neon green brim, a maroon sweatshirt and a backpack.”
The officer stopped a vehicle shortly after noon in the schools Coliseum parking lot, near McComas Hall, a campus gym, said Virginia Tech spokeman, Mark Owczarski.
“During the traffic stop, the officer was shot and killed,” said Owczarski.
Witnesses reported that the shooter fled on foot heading toward the Cage, a parking lot near Duck Pond Drive, where a second victim was found.
A Twitter alert issued by the school has instructed students to seek shelter and remain where they are. The campus is officially on lock-down.
“We get alerts every once in a while, and usually it’s just a false alarm. I started to get more worried when we heard the police officer had been killed and there was another victim,” said Megan Sherman, a student at Old Dominion University.
Garty reported the first alert email was received at 12:36 p.m. and students have been waiting anxiously for updates.
“Everyone’s just shouting out whatever they’ve heard, whether it’s true or not, and The Collegiate Times, Virginia Tech’s school newspaper, has been tweeting stuff that is unfounded,” said Garty.
Students at ODU have been left unsettled by the news. Many have friends and family attending the school scarred by the worst school massacre in U.S. history.
“At first I was worried because I have friends there, but I know that they’re ok. How do they continue to let this happen?,” said Chris Cattaneo, a sophomore student at ODU.
With the possibility of the shooter being a student at Virginia Tech, Cattaneo spoke about the recent debate concerning whether ODU students should be permitted to conceal firearms on campus.
“Before I was kind of in support of being able to carry a gun, but now I’m not too sure.” said Cattaneo.
“I feel that everyone has a right to protect themselves. I don’t necessarily feel that a gun is needed to protect yourself, but some people do. The fact that people might abuse the privilege was always in the back of my mind and now it’s just making me think about it more.”
Virginia Tech officials are still working diligently on keeping their student community and the public updated. Students are continuing to remain in their residences until otherwise notified.
