Breaking News: Police arrest suspect in Va. Tech shootings, additional casualties reported
11:16 AM EDT on Monday, April 16, 2007Associated Press
BLACKSBURG, Va. (AP) -- Officials have told The Associated Press a gunman suspected in one killing and seven to eight additional casualties at Virginia Tech has been arrested.
Earlier, Virginia Tech officials canceled classes for the day and students were warned to stay inside and stay away from windows.
A state government official with knowledge of the incident told The Associated Press that at least one person was killed by the shooter and another was wounded. It was later reported that there were seven to eight additional casualties. No further information about their condition has been released.
School officials say the shooting happened earlier this morning at West Ambler Johnston Hall, one of the largest dorms on campus. It houses nearly 900 students.
Officials ordered the 2600-acre campus closed and no one will be allowed on campus.
Nineteen-year-old student Jason Anthony Smith of Culpeper lives in the dorm, known as "West A-J." He told The Associated Press,
"There's just a lot of commotion. It's hard to tell exactly what's going on." Smith says police are yelling at students to stay inside.
The shooting incident was the second at the school in less than one year.
Last August, the opening day of classes was canceled and the campus closed when an escaped jail inmate allegedly killed a hospital guard and a sheriff's deputy involved in a massive manhunt.
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