Eyewitnesses describe Va. Tech mayhem

Police have not released the shooter’s name or any other information about the attacker but witnesses describe the gunman as a college-aged Asian man. FBI spokesman Richard Kolko in the District of Columbia told the Associated Press that there was no evidence the attack was terrorist-related, “but all avenues will be explored.”

Authorities are also withholding names of the dead.

Melissa Blythe, who was working in the building next to the Norris Hall, told The Examiner that Norris was surrounded by at least five patrol cars, a SWAT team an approximately 50 police officers. Police and the gunman traded fire for about one minute in the first exchange.

After the initial exchange, police evacuated students and professors, before a second round of shooting began.

“We heard all was good, then all these cop cars surrounded (Norris) and started shooting,” Blythe said. “As soon as they got out, shots started being fired; it was nuts. I couldn’t even tell you how many shots.”

“All in all, I saw at least 10 injured people pulled from the building. Four of whom were in very bad shape. Two of them jumped from a third-story window. A guy and a girl. The guy broke his ankle. The girl landed on concrete.”

Blythe said the shots came from inside the second or third floor on Norris Hall, which houses the university’s Department of Engineering Science and Mechanics.

Virginia Tech President Charles Steger said university police were investigating reports of the shooting in Ambler Hall when they were notified of the attacks in Norris.

“Today the university was struck with a tragedy that we consider of monumental proportions,” Steger said. “The university is shocked and indeed horrified.”

Wounded victims from the shootings were transported to three hospitals. Montgomery Regional Hospital, about five miles from campus, was treating 18 victims Monday afternoon, spokeswoman Suzanne Barnette said. Barnette did not know the condition of the wounded but said the hospital hopes to release the information by Monday evening.

Susan Honaker, spokeswoman at Carillion New River Valley Medical Center, a hospital in Radford, said there are four victims at the Radford hospital, three in stable condition and one in critical condition. All are males, but no names or no ages were released. Three victims were transported to Carillion Roanoke Memorial Hospital, all critically injured, said spokesman Eric Ernhart. He did not have their exact conditions.

Virginia officials have dispatched additional staff to help the state Medical Examiner’s office in Roanoke perform autopsies on the dead.

Two bomb threats in recent weeks have closed campus buildings but no explosives were found. Authorities did not say Monday whether the threats were related to the shooting.

Sympathy for the shooting victims and their families flowed from throughout Virginia Monday.

“I am truly saddened to hear of the tragic shooting at Virginia Tech,” said U.S. Sen. Jim Webb, D-Va. “My heart goes out to the parents and families of the victims of this senseless act. My office has been in communication with the Governor’s office and officials at Virginia Tech to offer any assistance.”

Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine, who left Sunday for a two-week international trade mission to Japan and India, left Tokyo on Monday and will land in the commonwealth today.

“It is difficult to comprehend senseless violence on this scale,” Kaine said. “Our prayers are with the families and friends of these victims, and members of the extended Virginia Tech community. . . . I urge Virginians to keep these victims and their families in their thoughts and prayers.”

The university has scheduled a convocation ceremony today at noon in its Cassell Coliseum and is making counseling available. Classes have been canceled.

The incident is believed to be the deadliest attack on a university in American history, according to the Associated Press.

A statement issued by Virginia Tech President Charles Steger on Monday read as follows: “Today the university was struck with a tragedy that we consider of monumental proportions. There were two shootings which occurred on campus. In each case there were fatalities. The university is shocked and indeed horrified that this would befall us, and I want to extend my deepest and most sincere and profound sympathy to the families of these victims, which include our students. . . . I cannot begin to convey my own personal sense of loss over this senseless and incomprehensible heinous act.”

Staff writers Maria Hegstad and Courtney Mabeus also contributed to this report.

CLICK HERE TO READ COMPREHENSIVE COVERAGE ON THE MONDAY MASSACRE AT VIRGINIA TECH