With everything that’s happened today, I’m opening up this thread for all discussion of the VT Shootings. I’m still trying to dig up more news, so far the best updating source is College Media dot com which has a chronological update starting first thing this morning and moving forward to the present.

I’ve tried calling down to Blacksburg to a couple of the folks I know in the STS department down there, with no luck whatsoever. All calls are routing right to voicemail, and sparse email contact has been made with the main campus. Feel free to use this space to talk about the shooting, connect with folks you know in Blacksburg.

Update, 2:17pm, via College Media: “As of now, 32 people are confirmed dead. One person from West Ambler Johnston Hall and at least 20 people from Norris Hall have been killed. The shooter as well has been killed, but it is uncertain as to whether it is a student or not. ”

Update, 2:38pm, via Fox News: “deadliest school shooting in US History.” I have now heard two reports that the shooter was an Asian man, but I have not seen that confirmed yet. Details are getting sketchier again. I’ve also had my first email returned from the main campus. Several of the faculty who serve as EMTs are reporting that the police coming out of the scene are very shaken and are undergoing some counseling onsite.

Update, 2:46pm, via 8Asians: Shooter Reportedly of Asian Descent, and walked into the building wearing a vest with an “ungodly” amount of ammunition, firing at will with a bulletproof vest and a large amount of ammunition. We’re still short some details on the American networks at this point. This is now the single deadliest shooting incident in US History.

Update, 3:06pm, via VT’s National Capitol Region office: All classes at DC Area Virginia Tech campuses have been cancelled for today.

Update, 3:32pm, via a Hokie Message Board: Shooter may have been a scorned lover. Rumors are, of course, only rumors. This one reads plausibly. There’s an open VT message board going on. Email service is still sporadic at best, and the facilities in the DC area have been locked down as a precaution. No word on when email access will be restored.

Update, 3:50p, via BBC News: First Person Account from a student inside Norris Hall when the shootings occured. Apparently between 80-100 rounds were fired. Jesus. Please note well that VT is a Gun Free Zone. Also, near as I can tell, there was a brief lockdown after the first shooting, but that lockdown was opened back up before there was anyone in custody, leading to the senseless deaths of at least 30 students and numerous more serious injuries.

Update, 4:10p, via Pajamas Media: Cellphone Video from Norris Hall and VT Campus. This is absolutely horrific.

Update, 4:40p, via Planet Blacksburg: The shooter was found in the basement of Norris Hall. This suggests the shooter took his own life at the end of the killing spree, not that he was killed by police.

Update, 4:45p, via CNN Newsfeed: Virginia is now in a State of Emergency, as ordered by Governor Kaine, who is on his way home from Tokyo. 33 dead. 15 more critically injured. A list of dead may be released as soon as tomorrow. The shooter in Norris Hall had no identification on his person, and has yet to be identified. “Why didn’t you shut down the campus at the first shooting?” “We concluded the first shooting was a domestic shooting, and we had reason to believe the shooter was leaving the state.” Police at this time have not connected the first shooting to the second.

Are the bomb threats from Friday related to this incident? “We’re looking into it… it’s a possibility we’re looking into.”

They are confirming the Norris Hall shooter took his own life.

Incident 1 in WAJ is considered potentially a domestic incident. There is no breakdown of faculty/staff deaths yet. There were chains on the door, but they’re not clear yet how many were chained. There were multiple locations inside Norris Hall with fatalities, they’re considering it one giant crime scene.

Update: 5:10pm, CNN: Still watching the coverage at Blacksburg, the questions are starting to repeat themselves, and VT’s President and Chief of Police are basically out of new ways to say, “We don’t know yet.” and “We’re not sure when we’ll know more yet.”

Update, 5:15pm, Kotaku: Jack Thompson is blaming videogames. Pardon my french, but STFU, Jack. Not even 12 hours have past and you’re spewing your self-interested line on Fox News? Jesus.

Update, 5:38pm, Planet Blacksburg: Eyewitness accounts are now coming in. The Post is also watching blogs for first person accounts.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs