Slain Virginia Tech officer identified
Photo by Matt Gentry
This is a running timeline of events from today’s shooting at Virginia Tech. For a summary of the story so far, click here.
10:04 p.m. Police have confirmed that the second person found dead was visible in footage taken from Crouse’s car. Click here for more information.
9:52 p.m. Virginia Tech President Charles Steger has issued his condolences in a letter to the community. Here’s the release – http://www.vtnews.vt.edu/articles/2011/12/120811-unirel-stegerstatement.html
9:18 p.m. The Virginia Tech police officer slain Thursday has been identified as Deriek W. Crouse, 39, of Christiansburg. He joined the Tech police department Oct. 27, 2007, and served in the patrol division. Here’s the full release with photo.
6:42 p.m.: Virginia Tech issues revised exam schedule: The final exams that were originally scheduled for Friday will take place on Saturday, Dec. 10 in their originally scheduled rooms and at the originally scheduled times. Regular final exam schedule will resume on Monday, Dec 12. Faculty members are asked to use their best judgement to make accommodations where appropriate.
6:35 p.m.: Former Gov. Tim Kaine, who was in office during the April 16 shootings, issues the following: I am relieved that today’s emergency situation at Virginia Tech appears to be resolved. I extend my deepest condolences to the family, friends, and colleagues of the campus police officer killed in the line of duty today. The Virginia Tech family, the Town of Blacksburg, and Montgomery County have faced tragedy too often in recent years. I feel particularly for the area’s law enforcement community who do great work every day but have seen another colleague lose his life in service. I commend all those who took proactive steps today to ensure campus safety.”
6:21 p.m.: Rep. Bob Goodlatte, R-Roanoke County, issues this statement: “I was deeply saddened to learn of the senseless act of violence that took place on the campus of Virginia Tech this afternoon. My thoughts and prayers are with the families of the victim and the entire Virginia Tech community.”
6:02 p.m.: Virginia Tech advises: Cook Counseling Center’s main office in McComas Hall will be open until 9 tonight for any students needing assistance. The center’s main office and the satellite office in East Eggleston Hall will have counselors available for students all day Friday. The center will determine later if Saturday hours will be added. The center can be reached by phone at 540-231-6557.
Staff and employees can contact Value Options at 866-775-0602 or can call 231-9331 to speak with a counselor on Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
5:59 p.m.: Sen. Jim Webb, D-Va., issues the following statement: “I was saddened to learn of the tragic shooting today and of the officer who lost his life in the line of duty. I would like to express my deepest condolences to the family of the officer who was slain, and to the entire Virginia Tech community, especially its leaders and police force. Tech is one of the Commonwealth’s finest universities, recognized nationwide for its first-rate faculty, staff and students, and its officials demonstrated that excellence today through their handling of this difficult situation.”
5:44 p.m.: Multiple tweets say there’s a vigil at 8 p.m. at the April 16 memorial on campus; awaiting confirmation.
5:36 p.m.: Universities release statements about today’s shooting:
Texas Tech University:
Texas Tech University System Chancellor Kent Hance:
“The Texas Tech University System is saddened to learn of the tragic events which unfolded on the Virginia Tech campus in Blacksburg, Virginia, today. Devastating situations like these impact us all, and we extend our support and sympathy to the town, community and Virginia Tech family. They all will be in our thoughts and prayers.”
Texas Tech University President Guy Bailey:
“On behalf of Texas Tech University, I would like to extend our deepest sympathies and prayers to the Virginia Tech community. Loss of life is always tragic, and our heartfelt support goes out to our colleagues and fellow students in Blacksburg. Our thoughts also are with the families and friends of the victims.”
5:23 p.m.: Police say they don’t think gunman had any relation to the traffic stop.
5:21: State Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli issues this statement: “Virginia Tech and law enforcement on the ground have the resources of my office at their disposal. We are in contact with our staff at the university and we are continually monitoring the situation.
“Today’s loss of a Virginia Tech police officer serves as a painful reminder of the risks that law enforcement face in the field. I have a tremendous appreciation for campus police, state police, local police and sheriffs, and all our members of law enforcement and their willingness to put their lives on the line each day to ensure the safety of the people of the commonwealth.
“Our prayers are for peace for the families of the slain.”
5:20 p.m.: Rep. Robert Hurt, R-Chatham, releases this statement: “We are very saddened to learn about the tragic events that took place at Virginia Tech today. Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims, their families, and all of those that are part of the Virginia Tech community on this sad day.”
5:16 p.m.: Police say they don’t know motive for shooting.
5:14 p.m.: Police say investigation will likely take “weeks.”
5:12 p.m.: Police say second victim was white male, dead from gunshot wound. No further ID at this time.
5:09 p.m.: Police won’t confirm number of shooters but say they believe community is safe. They say “read between the lines” about speculation on murder-suicide.
5:06 p.m.: Virginia Tech President Charles Steger says he was notified “within minutes” of incident. He was out of town at the time.
5:02 p.m.: Police say connection with Wednesday’s Radford incident is a “possibility” that is under investigation.
4:59 p.m.: Believed to be first time a Tech officer killed in line of duty.
4:59 p.m.: Tech officials working on new exam schedule, may be released as early as tonight.
4:57 p.m.: Police saw suspicious person alive in parking lot before finding him dead.
4:54 p.m.: Police say shooter was NOT the motorist stopped at a routine traffic stop.
4:51 p.m.: Police will not confirm suspicions that second victim was the gunman.
4:49 p.m.: Police say they don’t know if report of suspicious activity at Radford rest stop was related or not.
4:48 p.m.: Police say weapon recovered near second crime scene, type of weapon not revealed at this time.
4:48 p.m.: Slain Virginia Tech police officer not being identified at this time. The officer killed was a 4 year veteran of the VT Police. He was assigned to the patrol division, says Virginia State Police
4:47 p.m.: Police had no “credible” reports after finding second person dead.
4:45 p.m.: Police say witnesses saw suspect fire at officer.
4:42 p.m.: Tech president Charles Steger says police officer “murdered during a routine traffic stop.”
4:31 p.m.: Virginia Tech says: Law enforcement agencies have determined there is no longer an active threat or need to secure in place. Resume normal activities.
4:29 p.m.: Montgomery County schools says all after-school activities are cancelled at all schools.
Adventure Club and after-school child care is canceled at: Gilbert Linkous, Kipps, Harding Avenue and Margaret Beeks. After school child care will run as scheduled at all other locations.
4:25 p.m. All youth basketball practices and aerobic classes scheduled for tonight at the Christiansburg Recreation Center are canceled. All Montgomery County Public School practices and games are also canceled tonight.
4:24 p.m.: Sgt. Rob Carpentieri said Virginia State Police had closed the rest area near Exit 107 at Radford after they received tips of suspicious activity going on there.
Carpentieri declined to elaborate on the nature of the reports and said he was not sure whether the witness was still being interviewed or not.
4:23 p.m.: We’ve added more photos to the photo gallery showing the police presence on campus today.
4:09 p.m.: Gov. Bob McDonnell has issued the following statement:
“I am deeply saddened by today’s news of another tragedy affecting the Virginia Tech community. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of those impacted by these shootings. Since this news first broke we have been monitoring the situation closely and I have made available all requested state resources to Virginia Tech, including the Virginia State Police. I have also spoken to Virginia Tech President Charles Steger earlier this afternoon.
I want to thank the multiple law enforcement agencies and all of the officers for their speedy response and focus during this difficult time. I also want to commend Virginia Tech leadership, students, faculty and staff who cooperated to efficiently respond to this emergency.
While we will await the completion of the initial investigation of this incident before commenting further, I want to again offer our continued support to all of those impacted by this tragedy. Virginia Tech is a university of great resolve, and I have no doubt that the students, alumni and faculty of this proud institution will emerge from this sad day stronger and more united than ever before. There will continue to be needs in the days ahead as we move forward from this situation and I will ensure that those needs are met completely and fully by the Commonwealth.”
3:53 p.m.
A release from Montgomery County Public Schools:
Starting at 3:30 p.m. schools in Montgomery County will begin student dismissal while following all reasonable safety precautions. Middle and high schools will dismiss first, followed by elementary schools once the secondary bus runs are complete. For students who ride the bus, parents across all grade levels should expect transportation delays of 60-90 minutes later than their student’s usual bus arrival time. For those who wish to pick up their students, schools within the Town of Blacksburg dismiss once police presence has arrived to the school location. Parents at all other school locations may now begin to pick up their students in an orderly manner. Bus transportation will continue for all schools with a 60-90 minute delay expected. Thank you for your patience as we have continued to handle this situation.
3:30 p.m.: Christiansburg High School’s football team will not hold a practice today as Montgomery County schools remain in lockdown in the wake of the fatal shooting at Virginia Tech.
Christiansburg head football coach Tim Cromer said the school has made a preliminary arrangement to practice Friday afternoon on the artificial turf field at Salem High School..
Christiansburg plays Briar Woods for the VHSL Group AA Division 4 championship at 4:30 p.m. Saturday at Liberty University in Lynchburg.
“I’m going to have to revamp our schedule and squeeze two days into one because we’ve lost a day of contact,” Cromer said. “But this is not an issue for us. We’ve been practicing for four months. We know what we’re doing. The rest might be a good thing.
“There are obviously more important things going on than our deal. We’ll be fine.”
Cromer said Christiansburg still plans to meet at 10:15 a.m. Saturday at the high school to prepare to depart for the trip to Lynchburg.
3:19 p.m.: Virginia Tech reports: There are no new substantiated reports of suspicious or criminial activity. Status of the shooter remains unknown.
3.06 p.m.: Virginia Tech postpones exams set for Dec. 9.
2:59 p.m.: Rep. Morgan Griffith, R-Salem, whose district includes Virginia Tech, has released the following statement: “My thoughts and prayers are with the entire Virginia Tech community and the Town of Blacksburg as we continue to learn more about the shooting on campus today,” said Congressman Griffith. “I hope you will join me in lifting up the Hokie Nation in prayer.”
2:56 p.m.: Virginia Tech will hold news conference at 4:30 p.m.
2:47 p.m.: Virginia Tech news conference set for later today.
2:45 p.m.: There could be as many as 200 police officers on campus, according to officials.
2:12 p.m.: All Montgomery County schools are on lockdown shooting investigation continues.
2:10 p.m.: We’ve added more photos from the scene.
Statement from Virginia Tech- 1:51 p.m.
Shortly after 12 p.m. today, a Virginia Tech Police officer stopped a vehicle on campus during a routine traffic stop in the Coliseum parking lot near McComas Hall
During the traffic stop, the officer was shot and killed. There were witnesses to this shooting.
Witnesses reported to police the shooter fled on foot heading toward the Cage, a parking lot near Duck Pond Drive. At that parking lot, a second person was found. That person is also deceased.
Several law enforcement agencies have responded to assist. Virginia State police has been requested to take lead in the investigation
Status of the shooter is unknown. The campus community should continue to shelter in place and visitors should not come to campus.
1:37 p.m. What we know now:
A police officer was shot on Virginia Tech’s campus today, and the suspect remains at large as police cordon off a portion of the university campus. There may be a second victim as well.
Tech’s alert system reported at 12:37 p.m. that shots had been fired in the Coliseum parking lot and urged people to stay inside and secure their doors.
Later the university reported an officer had been shot and that there was a second possible shooting victim in the Cage parking lot near the end of Washington Street.
Heavily armed police officers were seen running through the area around the roundabout at the end of Washington Street, and officers searched cars around the Cage. At the Coliseum, what appeared to be a body was covered with a cloth in a taped-off area of the parking lot. Officers there told a dozen student-age onlookers to leave for their own safety.
Tech students Rachel Dallman and Jake Desmarais were enjoying lunch when they heard about the shooting. They stood in the Cassell Coliseum lot 50 feet from a taped off area where a body was covered.
Desmarais was stunned, called the news “shocking,” while Dallman was upset that such an event took place on Reading Day, which would otherwise be a quiet, routine segway into the holidays.
“What’s going on, why? In broad daylight and on Reading Day?” she said.
1:22 p.m.
1:20 p.m.
Reporter Lerone Graham tweets photo of a body under a sheet: http://lockerz.com/s/163121367
1:12 p.m.:
Virginia Tech reports: A police officer has been shot. A potential second victim is reported at the Cage lot. Stay indoors. Secure in place.
Click here for updates.
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They were putting someone on a gurney next to McComas
Comment by Henry — December 8, 2011 @ 12:56 pm
Could this be the same guy they were looking for yesterday for the armed robbery in Radford?
Comment by Matt — December 8, 2011 @ 1:41 pm
Picture of victim covered in white sheet…tacky and cold. Please have some sympathy for the victim’s family and remove it. Just a way to get hits and it’s horrible.
Comment by Brenda — December 8, 2011 @ 2:01 pm
Oh no, not on Reading Day!
Comment by Duke — December 8, 2011 @ 2:08 pm
Yeah, I seem to remember reading somewhere that the last of the end days will be perilous…….
Comment by tmomma — December 8, 2011 @ 2:39 pm
I have the same thoughts as Matt.
Comment by Manfred — December 8, 2011 @ 2:42 pm
Please have respect for victim’s family and remove this picture
Comment by Kat W — December 8, 2011 @ 2:44 pm
Brenda: seriously? Your worrying about the victim covered in a white sheet? They can’t move the body until the scene is safe and investigated. I’m in the medical field and sometimes there’s more important things that public servants have to worry about like catching the person at large so there aren’t more bodies covered in white sheets. And sometimes the state just doesnt have enough resources in public servants to work as wuickly as people want. There are protocals.I understand what your saying about respecting those people and their families but I’m Sure they want him caught as well. Try just praying for them and supporting their best efforts instead of making a negative into even more of a negative.
Comment by Tiffany — December 8, 2011 @ 2:50 pm
Yes, please remove the picture, no one needs to see that.
Comment by SRS — December 8, 2011 @ 2:53 pm
Please remove the picture of the body.
Comment by Dave — December 8, 2011 @ 3:31 pm
Is it possible the second body is that of the shooter of the policeman?
Comment by donnyb — December 8, 2011 @ 3:37 pm
Well, I agree with Brenda. Posting that picture is pretty audacious, and I also think it should be removed.
I can’t believe a bucolic place like Blacksburg is home to such frequent violence. It’s just unfathomable. My heart goes out to the VT community.
I hope the jerks (I’m being polite) who held the “gun rights” rally on campus a few weeks ago are eating crow. See what happens when laws make it easy for freaks to pack heat?
Comment by EAP — December 8, 2011 @ 3:41 pm
Um, who cares how this may or may not impact the high school championship game? How is that pertinent or even appropriate? Two people are dead and the assailant is still at large. A high school football championship is absolutely immaterial by comparison.
Comment by Aaron S. — December 8, 2011 @ 3:52 pm
Please remove this photo from the page. This is so desrespectful and does not help in keeping the public alerted on breaking news.
Comment by KSC — December 8, 2011 @ 4:00 pm
Tiffany – seriously? she didn’t say remove the body – she said remove the picture. And look up how to spell protocol. What medical field are you standing out in the middle of?
Comment by Donna — December 8, 2011 @ 4:03 pm
The photo of the body should be removed from the site.
Comment by William Shirkinson — December 8, 2011 @ 4:15 pm
Matt Gentry should have never taken or submitted the picture in the first place. Obviously the Roanoke Times doesn’t care folks.
Comment by John B. — December 8, 2011 @ 4:20 pm
Re: Virginia Tech Shooting, It’s Happened Again?
Two dead, one is a VT police officer, the shooter is at large! This is their third killing at VT since 32 were killed and 25 were wounded in 2007. Where is the “prevention?”
Colleges continue to use Crisis Management (reacting to an existing crisis), Threat Assessment (reacting to an existing threat) or mental illness, which does not reliably tell us who the next shooter is! Simply put, current methods use on campuses do not reliably prevent a campus shootings, they merely react after the fact; this is not effective, responsible nor defensible.
A comprehensive study conducted by the Dept. of Education and the Secret Service called the “Safe School Initiative” declares; only when we measure emerging aggression can we actually foresee malicious intent to harm in a shooter’s body language, behavior and reliably prevent the next shooting.
Campuses have a responsibility to protect our children who are there to learn, “in-loco-parentis.”
If we are to PREVENT future campus shootings, we must foresee emerging malicious intent-driven aggression. What must we do to get colleges to stop reacting (Crisis Management) and start preventing these campus shootings?
John D. Byrnes, Founder and CEO
Center for Aggression Management
Altamonte Springs, Florida
Phone: 407-718-5637
Email: JohnByrnes@AggressionManagement.com
Comment by John Byrnes — December 8, 2011 @ 4:39 pm
Bad guys get guns regardless of how strict the gun laws. Just go to NYC
and you will see gun violence galore, and NYC and NY state have the most harsh
gun laws in the country.
Comment by PJT — December 8, 2011 @ 4:45 pm
first of all, there is no such thing as a ROUTINE traffic stop. Traffic stops are just as bad and undetermined as domestics. Second, as long as the courts keep slapping these criminals in the hands and allowing them to walk out into the streets after committing crimes and getting caught by the police, more innocent people are going to be hurt or killed. When will politicians say enough is enough and big bigger prisons instead of paying out welfare. Again, there is no such thing as ROUTINE when it comes to police work.
Comment by Wredneck68 — December 8, 2011 @ 7:16 pm
As a police officer who was on campus today, I agree that The Roanoke Times should remove this picture of the body of a slain police officer covered in a sheet from the website and not publish it. This is a matter of respect for the officer, his family, his co-workers and the Virginia Tech community.
I do not think Mr. Gentry or anyone at the Roanoke Times would like the last known picture of them ever published to be one of their dead body covered by a white sheet in a crime scene.
I understand and respect the rights of the press and the need to report on the news and facts of the incident, however this picture is very disrespectful to the fallen officer and his extended family in law enforcement.
Comment by BHJ — December 8, 2011 @ 8:10 pm
A study of most major mass shootings find that almost all of them occur in
“gun free” zones like campuses. Criminals prefer unarmed victims.
Comment by Ron — December 8, 2011 @ 8:49 pm
What else could VA Tech have done? People are so stupid to believe that there are magical fences around colleges and that somehow they are immune from
crime in surrounding areas.
Unless your college is totally fenced in with guards at all entrances then
its no different than a regular city.
Stupid politicians declare that college are “gun free” and pass laws
which strip law abiding citizens of their right to carry, while criminals
see the “gun free” zone as an unarmed victim zone.
Most mass shootings in the US occur in “gun free zones” like shopping malls,
campuses, post offices, and transit areas.
Comment by Ron — December 8, 2011 @ 8:53 pm
This is what happens when you create defenseless victim zones. There were no serious school shootings(if there were any) 30, 40, 50 years ago and the parking lots were full of guns. As were lockers and dorms. Why? BECAUSE of that fact. Now? Guaranteed unarmed victims, and the left will still blame it it on everything but their own failed policies even while the bodies are still warm.
Comment by Scott Conklin — December 8, 2011 @ 9:03 pm
I find it amusing that Montgomery county dismissed schools early, but parents should expect a 60-90 minute delay of their kids arriving home. WTF? Why not dismiss them at their regular time and get home ON TIME?
Comment by Duke — December 9, 2011 @ 10:26 am
Mr. Byrnes,
Your comment, sir, is both insensitive and an obvious attempt at self-promotion on the back of a campus tragedy. You have no idea how this incident arose, you have no idea of the identity, status or origin of the shooter, you have, from what I can see, no background in mental health or law enforcement, and even if you did, you could not have enough facts on which to base what amounts to a very sick infomercial on websites.
People are hurting right now and you have the unmitigated gall to seek out a platform to criticize without facts and suggest that you have all the answers. That is as sick as it is dangerous.
Stop for one minute and think of those who have lost a loved one. Stop for one minute and think of the community that has suffered a loss. Stop for one minute and stop thinking about yourself and your bottom line. Putting your website up as if touting for clients is the height of bad manners and you should be ashamed of yourself.
Comment by JM — December 9, 2011 @ 9:34 pm