Virginia Tech shooter identified

Title

Virginia Tech shooter identified

Description

UC Davis to hold candlelight vigils to honor victims
By: Talia Kennedy
Posted: 4/20/07

The gunman who shot and killed 32 students at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University on Monday was identified this week as Cho Seung-Hui, 23, a senior English student at the university.

On Wednesday, NBC News reported receiving videos and a letter from Cho, sent between the time Cho shot and killed two students in an on-campus residence hall Monday morning and when he gunned down 30 more people before turning his weapon on himself.

"You have vandalized my heart, raped my soul and torched my conscience," said Cho in one video, in which he is shown brandishing firearms, a hammer and other weapons. "Thanks to you, I die like Jesus Christ to inspire generations of the weak and the defenseless people.

"You forced me into a corner and gave me only one option. The decision was yours. Now you have blood on your hands that will never wash off," he said.

Published reports have said Cho was receiving mental-health services, but that they were not provided by Virginia Tech. He was also accused of making unwanted phone calls and sending unwanted instant messages to two fellow students in 2005, but both declined to press charges. A professor said he made students in her class uncomfortable with his violently themed writing and by taking photographs of female students from under the desks in the classroom.

A counselor once recommended Cho be committed to a mental-health facility on an involuntary basis, but a judge denied the request, saying Cho was not a danger to himself or others.

In the aftermath of the shootings, universities across the country have scheduled prayer vigils to honor the fallen Virginia Tech students and faculty members.

The Cal Aggie Christian Association held a prayer vigil on campus Wednesday to honor the Virginia Tech victims, and two more services are scheduled for today.

The UC Davis student assistants to the chancellor, Hayley Steffen and Alfredo Arredondo, along with ASUCD officials, will host a candlelight vigil today at 7 p.m. at the Memorial Union Patio. Attendees will observe a moment of silence, and time will be designated to reflect on Monday's events.

A second candlelight service and prayer vigil will begin today at 7:30 p.m. at the Chabad House, at 321 Russell Blvd. across the street from the northern edge of the UC Davis campus. The event is hosted by Chabad of Davis, an organization that promotes the Jewish faith.

Students who would like to discuss their reactions to the Virginia Tech shootings should contact UC Davis' Counseling and Psychological Services at 752-0871 or visit its office in 219 North Hall.

Any suspicious activity on campus should be reported to the UC Davis Police Department by calling 9-1-1 from campus phones or 752-1230 from any phone.

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Original Source:<a href=http://media.www.californiaaggie.com/media/storage/paper981/news/2007/04/20/CampusNews/Virginia.Tech.Shooter.Identified-2870930.shtml>The California Aggie - April 20, 2007</a>

Creator

Talia Kennedy

Publisher

The California Aggie

Date

2007-08-23

Contributor

Sara Hood

Rights

Eddie Lee <editor@californiaaggie.com>

Language

eng

Citation

Talia Kennedy, “Virginia Tech shooter identified,” The April 16 Archive, accessed March 28, 2024, https://april16archive.org/items/show/1202.