Virginia Tech Massacre

The deadliest peacetime shooting incident by a single gunman in United States history.

Seung-Hui ChoSeung-Hui Cho • Born January 18, 1984 in Seoul, South Korea

• Senior level Undergraduate student at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

• Diagnosed with a severe anxiety disorder known as selective mutism, as well as major depressive disorder in middle school

• During last two years at Virginia Tech, several instances of abnormal behavior, as well as plays and other writings submitted containing references to violence, caused concern among teachers and classmates

• Accused of stalking two female students at Virginia Tech

• Committed suicide on April 16, 2007 after going on a shooting rampage at Virginia Tech killing 32 and wounded 25 others

West Ambler Johnston ShootingsWest Ambler Johnston Shootings • At about 6:45 a.m. Cho was seen near the

West Ambler Johnston Hall, a co-ed residence hall.

• Cho entered 19 year old freshman Emily J. Hilscher’s dormitory and shot her at 7:15 a.m. After hearing the gunshots a male resident, Ryan C. Clark, attempted to aid Hilscher but was fatally shot by Cho.

• Then Cho walked to Norris Hall. He carried a backpack containing several chains, locks, a hammer, a knife, two guns, nineteen 10- and 15-round magazines, and almost 400 rounds of ammunition.

Norris Hall ShootingsNorris Hall Shootings

• About two hours later Cho entered Norris Hall and chained the three main entrance doors shut.

• Cho placed a note on one of the doors claiming that opening the door would trigger a bomb to explode.

• Cho’s first shooting in Norris Hall was in Professor G. V. Loganathan’s room, 206. Cho shot and killed the professor and 9 of the 13 students in the room.

• Then Cho went to room 207 where he killed Professor Christopher James Bishop and four other students.

• Cho moved onto room 204 where students and professors had barricaded themselves in. Professor Liviu Librescu forcibly prevented Cho from entering the room while most of the students escaped through the window. Librescu and one other student died.

Norris Hall Shooting Con’tNorris Hall Shooting Con’t• Cho then entered room 211 killing

instructor Jocelyne Couture-Nowak and student Henry Lee as they attempted to barricade the door.

• Cho revisited room 207 after reloading. Students Katelyn Carney and Derek O'Dell were wounded while attempting to hold the door closed.

• Then Cho reentered room 206 and shot a wounded student.

• Cho attempted to enter room 205 but failed to force his way in after the students and substitute teacher barricaded the door. No one in room 205 was wounded or killed.

End of the AttackEnd of the Attack

• About 10-12 minutes after the first shootings in Norris Hall, Cho shot himself in the head. During the Norris Hall attack Cho killed 30 and wounded 17.

• Collectively, Cho had killed 27 students and 5 faculty members.

Emergency Response

• The barricaded doors at Norris Hall deterred police for about 6 minutes.

• When the police arrived they heard Cho’s final shot. His body was discovered inside room 211.

• Victims were treated at Montgomery Regional Hospital, Carilion New River Valley Medical Center,Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital, Holston Valley Hospital, and Lewis-Gale Medical Center.