Shooting at Virginia Tech: Two Killed, Classes Canceled

As we reported earlier, at least two people have been killed at Virginia Tech, where 32 people were shot to death and 25 were wounded during a 2008 massacre.

The identities of the dead have not yet been confirmed, but it is known that one is a police officer shot and killed during a traffic stop. The second is a person who was shot in a parking lot. Virginia Tech released a brief statement shortly before 2PM:

“Shortly after 12 p.m. today, a Virginia Tech Police officer stopped a vehicle on campus during a routine traffic stop in the Coliseum parking lot near McComas Hall. During the traffic stop[,] the officer was shot and killed. There were witnesses to this shooting… Witnesses reported to police the shooter fled on foot heading toward the Cage, a parking lot near Duck Pond Drive. At that parking lot, a second person was found. That person is also deceased.”

Several law enforcement agencies have responded to assist. Virginia State police has been requested to take lead in the investigation… Status of the shooter is unknown. The campus community should continue to shelter in place and visitors should not come to campus.”

At 3PM, the university updated students and media, adding:

“There are no new substantiated reports of suspicious or criminial activity. Status of the shooter remains unknown.”

As the “status of the shooter” continues to remain unknown, area schools and organizations are canceling meetings and have begun dismissal procedures in a guarded manner in order to protect students. At 3:55, Montgomery County Schools released the following statement:

“Schools in Montgomery County have started students dismissal following all reasonable safety precautions. Middle and high schools will dismiss first, followed by elementary schools once the secondary bus runs are complete. For students who ride the bus, parents across all grade levels should expect transportation delays of 60-90 minutes later than their student’s usual bus arrival time. For those who wish to pick up their students, schools within the Town of Blacksburg dismiss once police presence has arrived to the school location. Parents at all other school locations may now begin to pick up their students in an orderly manner. Bus transportation will continue for all schools with a 60-90 minute delay expected.”

One local news source has been culling updates about the Virginia Tech shooting here.