News

Students, Faculty Killed in Virginia Tech Shooting

By Dave Gradijan

April 16, 2007 — CSO —

Updated at 3:05 p.m. EST

In what has been described as the worst school shooting in the nation’s history, at least 21 people were killed Monday at Virginia Tech University, according to a Bloomberg report.

Other updated reports, including an Associated Press story on Boston.com, indicate that at least 30 victims have died.

Shots were apparently fired at the Blacksburg, Va., school’s West Ambler Johnston dormitory and also about two hours later at the engineering school’s Norris Hall on the other side of campus, university President Charles Steger told Bloomberg.

Another 21 people suffered injuries, according to the report, which didn’t yet identify the victims who were killed or the shooter, who also died.

The campus was closed after the shootings on Monday. It is scheduled to reopen Tuesday morning, but classes will be canceled, according to the Virginia Tech website.

A week earlier, bomb threats were also made at the school, reports Bloomberg.

Tips to detect and prevent violence:

• How to Prevent Workplace Violence
  Experts say most perpetrators of workplace violence signal that they have a problem. Prevention means staying alert to those signals, encouraging employees to report potential problems and practicing response plans. Share these pointers with your HR and management teams.
  
• Podcast: Advice about Workplace Safety
  Forensic psychiatrist Dr. Park Dietz, head of Threat Assessment Group, discusses the elements of a strong workplace violence prevention program and the questions executives should ask themselves.
  
• Putting an End to Violence
  What does it take to create a safe environment for employees? Experts and CSOs discuss how to head off a security department’s worst nightmare.

• Email
• Print
• Comments
• Digg This
• SlashDot

• Four Low-Cost, High-Yield School Security Techniques
• Securing the Suburban High School
• How to Prepare for Workplace Violence