How massacre unfolded

The following is a timeline of events surrounding the shooting dead of 32 people at a university campus in the state of Virginia.*7.15am* (local time) - The police department at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg receives an emergency call over an incident at the West Ambler Johnston Residence Hall.A rescue squad arrives to find a man and a woman have been shot dead in a dormitory. The hall is closed off and students are told to remain in their rooms while police begin collecting evidence and identifying witnesses.The deaths are "an isolated incident, domestic in nature", college authorities believe.*7.30am* - Leads are followed about a "person of interest" regarding the shooting of the man and woman.*8.25am* - The Virginia Tech Leadership Team, including the university president, meets to assess the situation.*9am* - Virginia Tech police chief Wendell Flinchum briefs the team on the ongoing investigation.*9.26am* - Staff and students receive an email informing them of the killings and are asked to report any suspicious activity. An emergency recording and a telephone message is also transmitted.*9.45am* - A second emergency call to go to Norris Hall, an engineering building containing offices, classrooms and laboratories, is received by police.On arrival, officers find the front doors are chained shut from the inside. As they break down the barricades, gunshots are heard as they enter the building.The sounds are followed to the second floor when the gunshots suddenly stop. The body of the gunman, who has taken his own life, is found.*9.55am* - Staff and students are notified by email again about the second shootings.© Independent Television News Limited 2007. All rights reserved.

ITN | April 17, 2007

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