vtech massacre

a korean student at viriginia tech university went on a rampage and killed 33 people, including himself.

at about 7.15am, for reasons unknown, he went to a dormitory and shot a black girl and her mentor, who tried to protect her against the shooter.

he then returned to his dormitory and compiled a package which was subsequently sent out to NBC, incuding several dozen pictures of himself posing angrily with guns and knives, as well as video clips of himself reciting from a 1800-word manifesto, depicting angst and hatred for people who "vandalized my heart, raped my soul and torched my conscience".

after posting the package, he continued with his massacre, going through the classrooms in norris hall and relentlessly killing every person in sight. traumatic and disoriented students and lecturers tried everything they could possible think of to survive, from heroically using their own bodies as shields for their students, to pushing tables against the classroom doors, to playing dead on the floor.

the monumental tragedy was complete when the deadliest mass murderer in american history shot himself in the head, adding the final increment to the death toll.

investigations revealed the identity of the shooter as cho seung-hui, 23, a korean final year student who, according to his manifesto, was cruelly oppressed by the more affluent students in the community, frequently describing himself as a victim of torture and abuse. he was invariably motivated by the columbine killings, which occurred 8 years ago to the week, as referenced in the 1800-word diatribe, in which he also remarked about getting revenge against unspecified wrongs done against him.

the world solemnly looks on as investigations continue to uncover more shocking facts and revelations. one can only wonder about the inevitable ripple-effect generated by a tragedy of such epic proportions.