Murder on Virginia Tech campus
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Virginia Tech homicide - morning update
The latest on the stabbing death at Virginia Tech's Graduate Life Center
WSLS Photojournalist Jarrett Henshaw
Crime scene tape up at Donaldson Brown, after VT Police say a murder took place on campus
Published: January 21, 2009
Updated: January 22, 2009
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11:02 p.m.
From Lindsey Ward, in the field
WSLS Reporter
Larry Hincker says the VT Alerts message was sent out around 7:30 p.m., and it took about 15 minutes for all 40,000 message to be sent.
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10:30 p.m.
Video and sound added.
“I was here for the April 16 shootings and I think this has affected me more because of that—just like, not again. This already happened here,“ Jessica St. Clair., a graduate student at Virginia Tech, told us. “I just can’t really believe this happened again.“
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10:08 p.m.
By WSLS News Staff
A Virginia Tech news release has just been put out by Larry Hincker.
Hincker says the original 911 call that Virginia Tech Police received, came in at 7:06 p.m.
The call claimed a woman was being assaulted in the Au Bon Pain cafe at the Graduate Life center at Donaldson-Brown.
Officers then arrived at 7:10 p.m., found the male international student suspect, and took him into custody.
Investigators found a knife at the scene, that they believe to be the murder weapon.
Officers are interviewing witnesses.
If you have any information related to this case, please contact the Virginia Tech Police at 540-231-6411.
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9:39 p.m.
From Lindsey Ward, in the field
WSLS Reporter
Virginia Tech Police Chief and Tech Spokesman Larry Hincker just gave us an update.
Tehy tell us that a female Asian international student was stabbed to death by a male Asian international student.
Investigators say the pair knew each other, and the young woman lived at the Graduate Life center
Hincker says the school is trying to notify the family, but it is difficult because they are from out of the country.
Chief Flinchum says Tech Police received the call about the stabbing a little after 7:00 p.m. When officers arrive, the woman was already dead. Flinchum says the young man who they arrested was there when they arrived. Flinchum says the young man has not been charged, but is being held in police custody. Flinchum called the case a murder investigation.
Hincker says the VT Alerts system worked fine.
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8:49 p.m.
An update from VT Alerts says to avoid the Graduate Life Center area, but otherwise students and faculty can resume normal activity.
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8:13 p.m.
Updated with pictures from crime scene
7:54 p.m.
Virginia Tech Police say a person has been killed at the Graduate Life Center.
Through the VT Alerts system, officers say a suspect is in custody.
WSLS has a crew on the scene. More information as it becomes available.
Watch WSLS at 11:00 p.m. for a full update.
Pictures of crime scene below by WSLS Photojournalist Jarrett Henshaw
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Reader Reactions
“Yes, I know there is no “gun show loophole”.“
“ But, the comment is as relevant now as it was after the Cho murders. “
in other words, it was irrelevant then and is irrelevant now.
The guns and knife were not purchased at a gun show.
I was trying to use sarcasm to try to open peoples eyes to what happened after April 16th and will no doubt happen after this tragedy. It sickens me that the “families and friends” of the victims would use the deaths of these people to get what they want (more laws and restrictions) that have nothing to do with what happened. In the mean time, the “real” problems that led up to these terrible events goes unresolved.
We have laws covering the purchase, possession, and use of weapons, already. We have laws against murder. I don’t think these guys cared about the laws. Would they have cared if we had even more laws?
I guess it is easier to demand redundant laws than to analyze and fix the problems.
So you think there is a loop hole or not? It doesn’t exist. It’s called selling private property.
My intent was not to make light of this poor girl. I feel horrible for her family. I have a 4 year old daughter and I can’t think of anything worse.
Speaking of the VT shootings from last year. Many people are in our state’s capital trying to get the “gun show loophole” closed. Why, I’m not sure. They are doing what you said we shouldn’t. They are using a tragedy to further a political idea. Cho didn’t purchase his weapon at a gun show, so I’m not sure why some VT victims are trying to stop something that didn’t affect them? Victims or not, it’s despicable to take rights away because of some freak show kid who purchased his guns LEGALLY!
Another VT murder, more death, more tragedy. To stand by and let this continue is despicable. We must stop this senselessness. We must close the Gun Show Loophole NOW! Before someone else dies a stupid, senseless, violent death.
Yes, I know there is no “gun show loophole”. But, the comment is as relevant now as it was after the Cho murders.
My sincerest sympathies go out to the family of Xin Yang as well as the April 16th VT victims, but let’s fix the real problem, whatever it may be, instead of wasting time making “new” laws just because its an easy way to make ourselves feel better(pretending we actually did something).
Let’s not dishonor Xin Yang’s memory by using her death to further unrelated political causes as was done to the memories of the victims of April 16th.
Of course it’s cross cultural. I’m not implying anything. You missed the point. Tech and Tim Kaine wanted to blame guns for the Cho murders. It was a joke.
Plus, if you really want to be technical. The last 30+ murders on Tech’s campus have been by Asian. That’s not racism. THAT’S A FACT. Don’t be shocked by facts. A fact cannot be racist. A comment cannot be racist. Only a person who treats people differently.
Based on your comments, I’d say you’re a typical Blacksburg liberal. If everyone doesn’t agree with you, then they are either close minded or racist. Get over it.
First of all tech is a beautiful campus and yeah, i call it a college. For as big as it is its a tight knit community and in no way shape or form too big. It takes me a max of 15 minutes to walk to class, so for someone to say at least a hour is absurd. And of course it is a city, 30,000 + students, like a lot of colleges. I absolutely love virginia tech and events such as this can happen anywhere. I still feel safe and if anyone wants to be ignorant and just see tech for what has happened, you are ridiculous.
Domestic violence is cross cultural and is not specific to a specific race. There is NO reason to imply that Asian’s are violent because of race. To imply otherwise is inappropriate. I cannot express my shock at the racism expressed in the prior comment.
Virginia Tech is a city in itself. Just driving by this college feels like you are riding by the “lost City” or “The Emerald City”. I could not beleive my eyes when I first saw this place they call a college. Students must spend atleat 45-60 mins. parking and walking to class.
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