At Least Twenty Killed in Virginia Tech Shooting

Blacksburg, VA.- Two shootings happened at the opposite ends of Virginia Tech University campus, leaving one gunman dead and at least twenty casualties.

The first attack occurred sometime after 7:15 a.m. at the West Ambler Johnston Dorm. The second shooting occurred at 10:00 am at Norris Hall. Initially officials confirmed only one death and one injury in the first shooting, but now there is no information as to the exact number of people killed in the attack. Recent estimates indicate as many as twenty students dead and nearly thirty more injured.

Although there are now emergency service personnel on campus, helicopters have not been used to transport the injured due to high winds. Ambulances have been used to take victims to Montgomery Regional Airport.

There is little known at this time about the identity of the gunman. Officials report that he was heavily armed and in possession of multiple automatic weapons.

It is unclear if there were multiple gunmen or if a single person carried out both attacks. Police are searching for a second gunman as part of the routine police procedure.

All entrances to the campus are closed and police loudspeakers are encouraging everyone to stay inside. Immediately after the attack all buildings on campus were closed and occupants were required to stay within. Anyone with any suspicious activity to report was asked to contact the Virginia Tech Police.

According the Virginia Tech website, they are now evacuating the campus. Half of the campus is being asked to leave immediately. The other half will be evacuated at 12:30 EDT. Classes are cancelled for both Monday and Tuesday, although administration offices will remain open on Tuesday.

The Virginia Tech student newspaper, The Collegiate Times has been publishing regular updates on the situation on their website. They report that three people were removed from Norris Hall in handcuffs and canine teams brought into the building. Later they were questioned and released from handcuffs according to Nick Sanders, an engineering student who watched from an adjacent building.