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Virginia Tech Shooter Changed Clothes to Escape

But another trooper spotted him in a parking lot

By John Johnson,  Newser Staff

Posted Dec 9, 2011 1:50 PM CST

(Newser) – Virginia Tech officials shed a few more details on yesterday's murder-suicide but still aren't speculating about a motive. The man who shot officer Deriek Crouse remains publicly unidentified, but police say he wasn't a student or affiliated with the school. He reportedly walked up to Crouse's vehicle while the officer was inside during a traffic stop and fatally shot him, reports the Raonoke Times. Crouse, a father of five, didn't have a chance to return fire.

The shooter then ran to university greenhouses nearby and stuffed his pullover and hat into a backpack, reports AP. He was apparently trying to escape when another officer spotted him acting suspiciously in a parking lot. As the officer approached by car, the man shot himself. It's not clear at this point whether he targeted Crouse in particular. "That's very much the fundamental part of the investigation right now," says a police spokeswoman.

A Virginia Tech flag and the state of Virginia flag fly at half-staff in front of Lane Stadium on the campus of Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Va., Friday.
A Virginia Tech flag and the state of Virginia flag fly at half-staff in front of Lane Stadium on the campus of Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Va., Friday.   (AP Photo/Steve Helber)
This photo released by Virginia Tech shows police officer Deriek Crouse, who was shot and killed Thursday.
This photo released by Virginia Tech shows police officer Deriek Crouse, who was shot and killed Thursday.   (AP Photo/Virginia Tech)
Flowers lie on the ground as a memorial to Virginia Tech police Officer Deriek Crouse.
Flowers lie on the ground as a memorial to Virginia Tech police Officer Deriek Crouse.   (AP Photo/Steve Helber)
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COMMENTS
Showing 2 of 5 comments
hopeandchange
Dec 10, 2011 10:43 AM CST
"Virginia Tech officials shed a few more details on yesterday's murder-suicide" more likely "shared"  -   my dogs sheds better than these liberals proofread.
NationalSovereignty
Dec 9, 2011 2:09 PM CST
Wait for some nasty liberal to come with their ignorant stereotypes of it being a "hillbilly school" or maybe the cop deserved it because he was a "hillbilly". Wait for it.....

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