<p>Just heard a news report. There are reports of a person with a gun outside of a dining hall! I hope that nobody gets injured!</p>
<p>Just got an AP alert on my iPad about a gunman at VA Tech.</p>
<p>Report now says the problem is near Dietrick Hall.</p>
<p>My fingers are crossed this is over fast and safely - my thoughts are with them!</p>
<p>Goodness. :(</p>
<p>Oh, no, are you serious? I was hoping you were just seeing the Sportscenter feature on Curtis Granderson where they replayed a segment from the VA Tech tragedy, as one of the students killed was a big fan of the baseball player.</p>
<p>Saying prayers for the kids and their families, from back then and today.</p>
<p>CNN and MSNBC are covering it pretty intensely - although no shots have been fired. At this point - it is just a report by 3 campers (no idea what age they are) that they saw a man with what appeared to be a gun under a cover of some sort.</p>
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<p>From website…</p>
<p>Update to VT Alerts
(10:35 a.m.) See VT homepage or email for further information on possible person with weapon. People on campus stay indoors until further notice.</p>
<p>Update to VT Alerts</p>
<p>At 9:09 a.m. three juveniles attending a camp at the university reported seeing a white male, 6 feet tall, with light brown hair outside of New Residence Hall East holding what may have been a handgun. They say the weapon was covered by a cloth or covering of some sort. He was walking fast in the direction of the volleyball courts. He was wearing a blue and white striped shirt (stripes were vertical), gray shorts and brown sandals. The subject had no facial hair or glasses.</p>
<p>Officers responded immediately to the area but found no one matching the description. Police have encountered no other witnesses reporting this individual or anything suspicious. Law enforcement officers from VTPD, Blacksburg PD, Christiansburg PD, Virginia State Police, and Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office are patrolling the campus, continuing to look for the subject. </p>
<p>If anyone sees anything suspicious contact the VT Police Department at 231-6411 or 911</p>
<p>Campus individuals should remain indoors.</p>
<p>supposed to have a news conferece at 11am…still waiting…</p>
<p>I’m betting (and hoping) that what the 3 campers saw was not a gun…</p>
<p>^My friend and I took our 13-year-old daughters to a mall in Massachusetts a couple of months ago. Someone reported seeing a guy with a gun, so they evacuated the mall. On our long walk back in the rain to our car, we saw helicopters, fire trucks, local police, and military personnel with huge guns. Later it was discovered that the man was carrying an umbrella, not a gun.</p>
<p>Aren’t there states where carrying a loaded gun around campus is now legal?</p>
<p>Yes. Why can’t we all be as smart as Texas?</p>
<p>–sarcasm–</p>
<p>Crystal - thanks for clarifying. I was a little worried there. The lockdown still seems to be in effect - but there have been no further reported sightings of this man. Here’s a recent quote:</p>
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<p>The 3 campers who reported seeing the man are now being described as “children” although no age is being given. I am hoping this incident fizzles out - it does not seem to be a real threat. I think VT responded appropriately - good drill if nothing else.</p>
<p>It must be awfully hard to decide what to do with a vague report like this. Of course you have to investigate, but do you lock down, evacuate, etc.?</p>
<p>Haha, Rick Perry. I honestly feel terrible for you guys. And this is coming from the kid who has Scott Walker as his governor!</p>
<p>Yes, if you’re VT, you definitely do lockdown and evacuate.</p>
<p>Hunt - this is such an issue - not just at VT but at any college or school. If you don’t lockdown and it turns out to be a real gunman - well that’s tragic. But if you do lockdown every time something is reported - it wastes a lot of time and resources - and is ripe for abuse/hoaxes. No easy answers here. But I think VT acted appropriately given the detailed report by 3 campers. I just wonder how old they are. I would trust the report of a 12-year-old more so than a 6-year-old, for example. Police said the campers were “credible” but have not released their ages.</p>
<p>I read one article that said the “campers” were teens.</p>