COLLEGIATETIMES Friday, December 9, 2011
At a loss
DANIEL LIN, TREVOR WHITE / SPPS
BY LINDSEY BROOKBANK | managing editor
G
unshots rocked Virginia Tech again yes-
wouldn’t have seen patrons lined up at Au Bon Pain for
terday, as an unknown gunman took
lunch or students hitting the books in common areas.
foot on campus, killing a police officer.
Rather, men in SWAT suits carrying rifles guarded stair-
As students went about their daily
wells, while terrified people swarmed the halls, sprinting
lives — mainly preparing for upcoming exams — they
toward safety. Gunshots were apparently heard near the
received an alert just after noon, stating that gunshots
building.
were heard near the Cassell Coliseum parking lot. Was this a false alarm? Just a few months ago, in August, allegations swirled across the university that a person was carrying a gun on campus. However, nothing came of the claims. Still, almost everyone at this university shudders when terms such as gunshots, gunman or shootings are uttered
Squires was only one location that was identified as suspicious — Newman Library was evacuated, and Torgersen Bridge was flooded with students. For four hours, our community waited in limbo, wondering where the gunman was headed next. At about 2 p.m., a second person was found dead in the Cage, the shooter’s location still unidentified.
— it was only four and a half years ago that the deadli-
Fast forward to 4:30 p.m. — rumors began spreading
est shooting incident in United States history occurred
that the second person was the shooter, but this has yet
on Tech’s campus, as Seung-Hui Cho killed 32 and then
to be confirmed. Officials finally deemed campus safe,
himself on April 16, 2007.
and everyone was told to resume normal activity.
So when cell phones vibrated and email notifications
As a warm orange sunset spread over the New River
appeared this afternoon, hearts dropped — and for good
Valley, the campus was revived. Exhausted and hunger-
reason.
ridden students emerged from buildings. Words like
As a Tech police officer was carrying out a routine
“mom” and “dad” echoed in their voices as they rushed
traffic stop in the Coliseum parking lot, near McComas
to notify them of their safety. And it wasn’t long before
Hall, he was shot and killed. From then on, police were
students were reminded of their upcoming exams.
sent on a harrowing search for the gunman.
Yet again, Tech is shaken. Two lives are lost. And
While emergency personnel sprinted throughout
although life will go on for Tech students all too soon,
Blacksburg, searching every nook and cranny of campus,
it is worth taking a moment to reflect on the heartache
students were being told to do just the opposite — to
this campus has endured. It is worth taking a moment to
stay put.
think about how we move forward.
Doors were locked. TV sets were turned on. Twitter
And finally, it is worth taking a moment to appreciate
feeds were put into high gear. Tech was officially on lock
those who shared the experience of this day and all our
down.
other days as members of the Virginia Tech community
Wandering around Squires Student Center, you
Police officer loses life in inexplicable shooting
— the Hokie Nation.
CROUSE MICHELLE SUTHERLAND news editor Officer Deriek W. Crouse, 39, of Christiansburg, was killed in yesterday's campus shootings. During a routine traffic stop near McComas Hall, an unknown gunman unrelated to the traffic incident shot him. He joined the Virginia Tech Police Department in 2007 and has been on its Emergency Response Team since February. He recieved an award in 2008 for his efforts at curbing underthe-influence driving. A retired member of the army, Crouse recently served two tours in Iraq.
“He just got out, this is really crazy how it all turned out,” said Michael Taber, a close friend from the army and Radford resident. The Tech community is showing its support to his family — Crouse is survived by his wife, five children and stepchildren, as well as his mother and brother. "My heart goes out to his family who will surely feel most keenly, in the days and months and years ahead, the profound loss that today's events have brought to pass," said Virginia Tech President Charles Steger in an email to the university.
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december 9, 2011
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Shortly after noon, officer Deriek Crouse of VTPD was shot during a routine traffic stop in the Coliseum lot.
At about 1:12 p.m., another potential victim was reported in the Cage. He was later deemed dead, and could be the shooter. That rumor has not been confirmed.
Violence strikes Tech again, shocks campus Virginia Tech Police officer murdered, one other man dead; campus terrified as search for shooter brings Tech to a halt ing Torgersen Hall, Squires Student Center and the Performing Arts sports special sections editor Building. All of these reports were invesFor the second time in four years, tigated and found to be not Virginia Tech has fallen victim to an credible. unspeakable act of violence, as two Much of what exactly happened at the men — one being Deriek W. Crouse of second crime scene is still unknown, as the Virginia Tech Police Department those details will need to be substanti— were shot and killed Thursday after- ated by an investigation that could take noon. weeks. “Today, tragedy again struck Virginia “I apologize for not being able to fill Tech in a wanton act of violence where in some of the blanks, but you realize a police officer was murdered during a this is still in the early stages of the routine traffic stop,” said Virginia Tech investigation, and we’re trying to proPresident Charles Steger. “Our hearts vide you with as much information as are broken again for the family of our possible,” said Sgt. Bob Carpentieri of police officer, and we extend our deep- the Virginia State Police during a press est sympathy and condolences.” conference. Crouse, 39, had been an officer of the “I know it’s frustrating for you, but VTPD since 2007 and is survived by when other information becomes availhis wife and five children and step-chil- able regarding the victims, we will pass dren, as well as his mother and brother. it along.” The events Those were began at the only two approximately incidences 12:15 p.m., that are conTODAY, TRAGEDY AGAIN firmed to have when the police officer respondSTRUCK VIRGINIA TECH IN A occurred, even ed to a routine though there WANTON ACT OF VIOLENCE were rumors traffic stop in the Cassell the shooter WHERE A POLICE OFFICER of Coliseum parkbeing in many ing lot. WAS MURDERED DURING A places including During that Torgersen Hall, ROUTINE TRAFFIC STOP.” stop, a suspect Squires Student — who was Center and the described as Charles Steger P e r f o r m i n g being a white Virginia Tech President Arts Building. male with “gray All of these sweat pants, gray hat with neon green reports were investigated and found to brim, maroon hoodie and a backpack” be not credible. — allegedly shot and killed Crouse, “In an incident like this, it’s not at and then fled toward McComas all unusual when you ask the comHall. munity to report suspicious behavThe shooter is not thought to be iors or any concerns they have, for involved with the traffic violation, and police departments to be inundated, was instead a third party. or at least receive numerous calls,” said Following the report of gunshots, the Gene Deisinger, Tech’s deputy chief of VTPD arrived on the scene of the police. crime at 12:30 p.m., when it promptly “Since the time of the second incireached out to local, state and federal dent, there have been no other founded law enforcement to help in the man- reports of any threats to the campus. hunt. We have responded to and investiThe request for additional help came gated numerous calls of suspicious with a campus-wide alert at 12:36 p.m. activity, community members reportto all Tech students, notifying them ing persons who matched the descripwith what had happened and telling tion that was provided to the comthem to stay indoors. munity of the reported gunman, and About a half hour later, an officer saw none of those resulted in credible a man in the I lot of Duck Pond Drive, findings.” commonly referred to as “the Cage,” An additional rumor connected the acting suspiciously, and upon return, incidences at Tech to a rest stop on I-81 found the man dead from a bullet northbound being closed near Radford, wound. but no such link has been found to this The officer did not shoot the sec- point. ond individual, and it is still unknown “We had some reports of some suswhether the man took his own picious activity at that location,” life. Carpentieri said. “We sent some troopWhile police are still not willing to ers and agents to that location, and definitively say that the second victim they’re currently processing that scene. was the shooter in the initial crime, new I cannot tell you if it is related to this evidence has provided a potential link, incident or not.” as video footage from the Crouse’s inSeveral hours later, when all leads car camera appears to show the second from the community were provvictim at the time and place of the first en to be unfounded, Tech released shooting. its final alert at 4:29 p.m., when it “With that evaluation, we have been announced that there was no longer able to determine that the male sub- an active threat and to resume normal ject found at the other scene deceased, activities. that he has been captured on that in“I want to thank our univercar video at the scene with the weap- sity community — and in particuon we believe was used,” said Maj. lar, our student body — for staying Rick Jenkins of the Virginia State indoors,” said Larry Hinker, a univerPolice. sity spokesman. “We asked them to The evidence is being analyzed, while stay in doors and stay secure when police are still collecting mounds of we sent out the VT Alerts throughout other information from witness state- the day. That’s how it’s supposed to ments and articles. Police hope to have work.” more conclusive information by the A candle light vigil for the police offimorning. cer is going to be held tonight at 6:30 on Those were the only two incidences the Drillfield, and Cook Counseling’s that are confirmed to have occurred, office in East Eggleston will be open even though there were rumors of the today for students who would like shooter being in many places includ- counseling.
NICK CAFFERKY
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PAUL KURLAK / SPPS
Washington Street between Spring Road and the roundabout was shut down due to the investigation.
TREVOR WHITE / SPPS
Police stop students near Torgersen Hall and search them.
december 9, 2011
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Hokies embrace school amid scrutiny LIANA BAYNE & ZACH CRIZER ct news staff The world was watching Virginia Tech again today — and once again it saw a tragedy. Since Tech student Seung-Hui Cho killed 32 and himself in the April 16, 2007, campus shootings, Tech has been the scene of several scares, false alarms and similarly tragic — if smaller — incidents. Some students expressed frustration to the way national media outlets handled the story, while other students expressed pleasure with how the Tech community handled the situation. SGA president J Corbin DiMeglio said he was “amazed by how something so tragic was handled so smoothly.” “We became a family, looking after each other,” DiMeglio said. “I was amazed by how difficult of a situation it was but by how smoothly it went.” “It’s gonna be asked about,” he said. “But like Nicki Giovanni said, We will prevail. And we did prevail.” DiMeglio said he had been declining to do interviews with national media outlets, though he said many had contacted him for interviews. “Part of Hokies United is that the recognized voice is (Larry) Hincker’s office, and we don’t want to provide hearsay,” DiMeglio said. Student Chris Luceri said he felt the incident “united all of us.”
“But, at the end of the day, I was just thankful it wasn’t another mass school shooting,” Luceri said. “I’m sorry for the officer’s family though.” Luceri said he and his roommate spent the day watching CNN. “It pissed us off initially,” he said. “We knew if it wasn’t Tech, they wouldn’t have sensationalized it as much.” People on Twitter expressed their views about national media coverage of the events at Tech by using the hashtag #notagain, referencing the April 16, 2007, shootings. “#notagain praying tonight for all students, families, and faculty linked to Virginia Tech <3” wrote user @TheTallEmily. Kevin Ryland, a freshman electrical engineering major, said he and his friends in Lee Hall were also watching CNN all day. “They (CNN) dwelled a lot on what happened in 2007,” Ryland said. “Sometimes I couldn’t understand if what they were talking about happened then or now. “They were using it as a way to capitalize on past events. I think the news should be more practical instead of sensational. The local news was better.” Derek Thackston, a senior biology major, said he thought Tech reacted well to the events. “The alert system was really fast,” he said. “People still give the school PAUL KURLAK / SPPS crap for not getting the alerts out fast enough, but they do all they Media floods to campus to cover the Dec. 8 shootings. Tech again found itself in an unfortunate spotlight. can do to communicate.”
Community gathers in display of support
Social media saves day
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DANIEL LIN / SPPS
Students use their cell phones to contact friends and loved ones during the chaos of the afternoon.
WITH PHONE LINES BUSY, HOKIES USE FACEBOOK TO CONTACT LOVED ONES ROY T. HIGASHI / SPPS
Ray Pereira and Andrew Benton reflect at the vigil held for Deriek Crouse, the officer who was killed yesterday.
HOKIES REMEMBER AND REFLECT IN VIGIL AS HOKIES UNITED ORGANIZES FOR FRIDAY CLAIRE SANDERSON news editor Despite being officially scheduled for Friday at 6:30 p.m., more than 150 people showed up to a candlelight vigil at the April 16 memorial last night. “Even though it was cancelled, I think it was fantastic that people still came out,” said Andrew Benton, a freshman engineering major and Corps of Cadets member. “I’m really proud to be a part of the Hokie Nation tonight.” The vigil, held at 8 p.m., was unofficially organized by Kevin Burke, a senior communication major, and Chris Mundy, a 2009 alumnus. The two created the event on Facebook at around 5 p.m., Burke said. He said the event grew faster than he expected, reaching about 2,000 people within less than two hours. “After we did that, the SGA contacted us and said they’d like to be a part of it tomorrow,” Burke said. He said the SGA felt the event should be held with the support of Hokies United and administration, and it would be safer to have the event tomorrow. “We moved it because of things like security,” said J Corbin Dimeglio, a senior finance major and SGA president. Burke changed the date of the event on the Facebook group, which had 3,500 attendees, by 9:30 last night. However, people still participated in a vigil last night anyways.
“I think (today’s violence) is a bad rep for Virginia Tech,” said Pete Womack, a freshman biology major. “But the fact that we are all here tonight shows that as a community we’re strong, and we don’t let things like this ruin it.” Although the identity of the fallen officer —Deriek Crouse — was still unknown at the time of the vigil, students were adamant to show their support. “We still came — paying respect and honor to the fallen officer is a really big thing for us,” said Ray Pereira, a junior electrical engineering major and member of the Corps. “We knew we had to do something,” Burke said. “It’s definitely a sad event losing one of our officers who has done so much to keep our community safe. They couldn’t have done a better job.” Pereira said the day made him feel proud to be a Hokie. “We’re growing stronger as a community through things like this,” Pereira said. “My pride as a Hokie hasn’t been tarnished at all, I’d say I’m more proud to see my fellow Hokies come out tonight.” Burke said the support shown last night showed the world what Tech is all about, not the violence of earlier in the day. “We all know this isn’t what Virginia Tech is about,” he said.
LIANA BAYNE
Kevin Ryland, a freshman electrical engineering major, stayed with When people were his friends in Lee Hall. trying to figure out what “I was able to send a was happening today on few texts,” Ryland said. Virginia Tech’s campus, “But everyone in my they didn’t immediately hall gathered into one turn to their phones. room with the news on Instead, they looked to and an online police social media. scanner running. “I used Facebook and “One of the guys who Twitter. Facebook chat lives on the seventh was great,” said SGA floor, his room overlooks president J Corbin the McComas area. He DiMeglio. said he DiMeglio had like used the 30 people I’VE TOLD MY going in on line feature to FAMILY THAT IF and out coordiof his AN EMERGENCY r o o m nate with his friends to EVER HAPPENS trying and family. see what “I’ve told TO ME, CHECK was going my famMY TWITTER on.Ry” l and ily that if an emersaid havFEED FIRST.” gency ever ing so happens m a n y J Corbin DiMeglio p e o p l e to me, to SGA President gathered check my Tw i t t e r in one feed first,” r o o m DiMeg lio helped said. “So t h e m my dad was follow- share information. He ing Twitter the whole said the group was foltime, even though lowing the Collegiate he doesn’t have an Times’ Twitter feed, @ account.” CollegiateTimes, all DiMeglio acknowl- day. edged that some stuRyland was also unable dents had trouble using to use his cell phone. their cell phones to send “I got texts, but and receive calls and calls wouldn’t go text messages. through. There were “Verizon wasn’t work- people I hadn’t talking, and AT&T was ed to in years going, barely working,” he ‘Oh my god, are you said. OK?’” Chris Luceri, a finance Derek Thackston, a major, said he and his senior biology major, roommates remained also said phone services locked in their house all offered limited commuday. nication. “I couldn’t send texts “We all used or calls,” Luceri said. Facebook,” he said. “As “We had Tech’s Twitter long as the Internet held feed up all day.” out we were good.”
special sections editor
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ontwitter The CT posted a message on its Twitter feed, asking people to share their communication experiences. Here’s what they had to say:
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texts, tweets, emails, phone calls. Technology is great. @CHAPEL44
@CollegiateTimes I posted on facebook--this is the kind of situation where it’s really good to be facebook friends with your parents @TESSERACTIVE
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@CollegiateTimes Facebook messages best friend at a different college to call my family for me. Worked great @DICKKRAEMER
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@CollegiateTimes was actually en route to exam as first alerts went out, couldnt call parents til after;communicated via txt for rest of day @SARAHGROAT
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@CollegiateTimes I used Twitter and FB to update and check on friends. I directly texted a few loved ones to keep them up to date. @SHARLYNU
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december 9, 2011
PAUL KURLAK / SPPS
Police held up a white sheet near the crime scene in the Cassell Coliseum parking lot. Officials put up white sheets to cover up the body of Deriek Crouse, the officer who was shot and killed during a traffic stop.
ROY T. HIGASHI / SPPS
A police officer searches through cars along Washington Street during the lockdown.
BRAD KLODOWSKI / SPPS
Students lean out of their windows in Lee Hall to try to get a better view of the incidents taking place.
TREVOR WHITE/ SPPS
A van carrying tactical response officers drives down West Campus Drive.
ROY T. HIGASHI/ SPPS
A police officer watches near cars parked on Washington Street during the lockdown.
DANIEL LIN / SPPS
A group of officers congregate around a SWAT van for a briefing near Rector Field House on Spring Road.