Virginia Tech Shootings: One Year Later



The following is an archive of the stories and blogs posted to TriCities.com during the one year anniversary of the Virginia Tech Shootings on April 16, 2008.

Update 11:40 p.m.: -BLOG-
MOM’s BLOG: Anniversary of the Virginia Tech Massacre
By Sarah Diamond, WJHL Newschannel 11
Today we devoted a lot of our news time to the one-year anniversary of the shootings at Virginia Tech.
Some people there are struggling for some sort of normalcy, though their lives are changed forever. I admire the strength of the faculty, staff, students and community for trying to continue with their lives, yet never forgetting the tragedy that took so many from the campus family.
Click Here To Respond To Mom’s Blog: Anniversary Of The Virginia Tech Massacre
Update at 11:30 p.m.: Hokies Unite Into The Night
As the day winds down, Hokies unite into the night. Your Tri-Cities News Source continues coverage from Virginia Tech remembrance events.
Click Here to View 11 p.m. Coverage
Update 5:53 p.m.: Man With Rural Retreat Ties Remembers Victims
By Nate Morabito, WJHL Newschannel 11
Blacksburg, VA - Although Wednesday marked a somber day for the campus of Virginia Tech, Rodd Hall seemed remarkably strong. Hall, who's father lives in Rural Retreat, is Virginia Tech's Associate Vice President for Research. Last year in the days following the Virginia Tech shooting, he learned 5 people he knew died at the hands of the lone gunman. His colleague, Kevin Granata was among the victims. "For the first three weeks, every day has felt more difficult," Hall said. "It didn't get easier and you thought you'd wake up and it would be easier, but it felt worse."

Since April 16, 2007, Hall has made it a point to tell others about Granata's heroics every time he has the opportunity. For him, it's part of the healing process. He also purposely walks by Norris Hall every day. It's his way of honoring all those people who lost their lives inside that building. His office sits above Norris Hall. On many days he looks out his window at the last door family friend and student Austin Cloyd walked through before she was killed. It's his way of still watching over her. However, despite being so close to all this loss, for the most part, Hall has moved on. "We can't let this shooting define Virginia Tech, " Hall said. "I can't let it define who I am."

Still, that doesn't mean Hall is ready to forget what happened last April. It will always be in the back of his mind. "The healing will never be over, " he said, "I heard someone say the other day,' a scar never goes away,' and clearly that is a scar that will never go away." Despite that, as he looked out at the busy Virginia Tech campus Wednesday, he didn't cry. Instead, he smiled. Not only has he come a long way, so has the entire university. Wednesday's Day of Remembrance was just another small step in a healing process that will last a lifetime. "There's a lot of life on the campus, and I'm going to spend the afternoon enjoying the life on campus instead of focusing on the death that occurred here a year ago," Hall said.
Update at 12:30 p.m.: LIVE Noon Coverage
Your Tri-Cities News Source is LIVE for Virginia Tech remembrance ceremonies. WJHL reports LIVE from Blacksburg, VA. We also have local reaction and reflections as local Tri-Cities colleges commemorate the occasion.
Click Here To View LIVE Noon Coverage
Posted at 10 a.m.: ESTU Bells Toll In Remembrance Of Virginia Tech Victims
Wednesday morning, East Tennessee State University Campus marked the one year anniversary of the Virginia Tech Shootings.
Students, faculty and staff shared a somber moment on the ETSU campus in Johnson City, TN.
Bells tolled five minutes in honor of the slain victims lost in the shooting rampage.
Click Here To Hear ETSU Bells
Various ceremonies and gatherings are planned today on the Virginia Tech campus in Blacksburg, Virginia.
The first anniversary of the mass shootings on campus is a day of remembrance marked by a moment of silence and tolling of bells, an evening candlelight vigil - and small, reflective gatherings.
It was last April 16th that a gunman killed two students in a dorm room, then 30 students and faculty in a classroom building hours later, before killing himself as police moved in.
Some families of victims say they can't bear to attend the official events.
Your Tri-Cities News Source is covering today’s events live from Blacksburg, Virginia. We’ll have LIVE team coverage all day and night long.
Update 5:00 a.m. -BLOG-
Morning Edition Blog: Remembering Virginia Tech… One Year Later
Today’s Morning Edition Blog is dedicated to the memory of the people killed one year ago today at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Virginia.
We welcome your memories and tributes, and we’ll post as many of them as possible.
One year ago today, I was at my desk in the News Channel 11 newsroom watching the news wires, What started as a report of a campus shooting quickly turned into ceaseless news coverage of a massacre just a few hours to our north.
I remember watching on-line coverage from WSLS-TV, our sister station in Roanoke. A reporter broke the news that the death toll was over 20, noticeably stunning the news anchors who were hearing the information at the same time as the rest of us. They had no way of knowing the news was only going to get worse.
My colleagues Josh Green, Nate Morabito, Ted Overbay, and Jonathan Webb spent days in Blacksburg providing coverage for WJHL. They’re back in Blacksburg today. You’ll see their live coverage through the afternoon and the evening.
Click Here To Respond To Morning Edition Blog: Remembering Virginia Tech… One Year Later
Virginia Tech: One Year Later
Your Tri-Cities News Source will have continuous coverage of Virginia Tech Shootings remembrance activities.
Click Here To Check Out Yearlong Coverage.

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