McLean Student Recounts His Day at Virginia Tech In the Midst of the Shooting

Today, December 8th, a travesty has befallen the campus of Virginia Tech on Reading Day, a day where no classes are held in order for students to study for finals.

According to Blacksburg police, a typical traffic stop occurred near Cassell Coliseum and McComas Hall before noon today and something had gone awry. The police officer who had stopped the vehicle was fatally shot, circumstances unknown, and the gunman fled towards “The Cage”, a large parking lot normally used for resident parking.

I was first alerted of this event by a text message from Virginia Tech around 12:30. The text was then followed by a phone call and an email that depicted the affair and further told me to stay indoors and lock my dorm.

I was at a dining hall near my dorm, Harper Hall which is also located near McComas Hall, and quickly left the dining hall before anyone could say anything to me. From my third floor window, I witnessed several police cars drive by as well as media vans going towards the scene. It had become apparent something went very wrong and students walking around the campus were soon inside, making the campus eerily quiet. The campus was put under lockdown and cops soon began to guard the buildings and halls housing students.

Not long after, another alert was given describing that there had been another shooting at “The Cage” and someone else had been killed. The alert also gave an initial description of the suspect, a white male wearing a maroon sweatshirt and a hat with a neon brim. This created quite a nervous frenzy in the dorms because of the proximity of the crime and the typical VT-student or Blacksburg townie appearance of the suspect. Rumors began to pour in that there had been gunshots at Torgerson Hall and the Performing Arts Building, which was unusual because these buildings were on the complete opposite side of where the crimes were committed.

At this point, I was unaware of why all of this occurred and why it even had happened. What was even more scary was that there was no answer to any of these questions. We all sat around together watching the news, reading the student-run VT Collegiate Times Twitter page, and speaking to friends on Facebook unsure of what to do and what to make of this.

The first thoughts that came to my mind, and many of my peers, was what this incident will mean towards the reputation of Virginia Tech and how it will be compared to the events that happened in 2007. The “not again” feeling made me sick to my stomach because I know from the time that I have been here that Virginia Tech is an amazing place.  The actions of this one individual did not reflect what students here at VT had come to expect or what VT stands for.

At a press conference held around 5 p.m., VT officials released information that the weapon used had been found near the person who was killed at “The Cage” and consequently, may be the person who had committed the first crime. Recently, an alert has been sent declaring the threat is over and that normal activities should resume. This information has not yet made me feel comfortable; the last four hours have shaken me to the very core. This tragedy seems similar to any other tragedy that transpires throughout our country, no motive has been found that would make it resemble the insanity of what occurred in 2007.

Virginia Tech did a great job of alerting the students of the occurrence and keeping us safe from further harm.  Also, on the behalf of myself and my fellow Hokies, I want to thank all of the friends and family who called or messaged us with concern for our safety, we are truly appreciative. Moreover, I would like to give my sincere apology to the family of the deceased officer and thank him for his dedication to protecting us.

I have written this article because I felt the opinion of a Virginia Tech student can help people understand our sentiments towards this incident and not have people jump to conclusions about the safety and character of our university.  Today has been tragic and the feeling of the campus echoes this emotion. Yet, Virginia Tech will move on from this and continue its tradition of positivity and pride. We are Virginia Tech.

Shawn Ghuman, a McLean resident,  is now a sophomore at Virginia Tech. He is a 2010 Langley High School graduate and was the president of his class.