almotamar.net google news - Campus chiefs were accused of having "blood on their hands" after America's largest mass shooting. As police begin to unravel how 32 people were killed in the massacre at Virginia Tech University on Monday, the authorities were facing tough questions over why they waited more than two hours to inform staff and students of the first murders.
Many found themselves trapped and terrified when the gunman, instead of fleeing as the authorities suspected, launched a new and more ferocious killing spree. Survivors described how the calm young Asian man, dressed in what one said was a Boy Scout type uniform, roamed around in search of victims.
The tragedy began at 7.15am (12.15pm British time) in West Ambler Johnston Hall, a student dormitory, when two victims, a man and a woman, were gunned down.
Around two hours later 30 people, including a number of staff, were killed when the gunman began firing in Norris Hall, an engineering building containing classrooms and laboratories. The un-named killer then took his own life.
There was speculation he may have been a disgruntled boyfriend seeking revenge after discovering his girlfriend was having an affair.
But although police were called to the first shooting at 7.15am, the authorities did not notify the rest of the student population until 9.26am, when an email was sent giving brief details and asking them to report any suspicious activity.
Students said there were no public-address announcements on campus after the first shots. "I think the university has blood on their hands because of their lack of action after the first incident," said Billy Bason, 18.
Charles Steger, president of the university based in Blacksburg, said they had "locked down" where they believed the first shooting had occurred. He said: "We had no reason to suspect any other incident was going to occur."
Mr Steger added: "We concluded the incident in Ambler Johnston was domestic in nature, in fact we had some reason to think the shooter had left the campus, in fact may have been leaving the state."
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