Va. Tech Shooter May Have Practiced

Files had been removed from university clinic illegally

(NEWSER) - The mental health records of the gunman behind the 2007 Virginia Tech massacre have been found in the home of a former director of the university’s clinic, reports the AP. Seung-Hui Cho’s records were illegally taken from the clinic more than a year before the attack, says a memo from Gov. Tim Kaine’s legal counsel. Police are investigating. More»

School's response deemed okay, some upgrades recommended

(NEWSER) - Virginia Tech's response to the April shootings that left 33 dead got a free pass in an internal review today, CNN reports. Although the university should improve its communications systems and means of monitoring troubled students, the report says, it found no fault with how school officials and police handled the incident. The spree was the worst school massacre in US history. More»

(NEWSER) - The Post reports on the ongoing probe into the Virginia Tech shootings, with police reconstructing details of gunman Cho Seung-Hui's movements and searching for motives. Questions include whether Emily Hilscher, his first victim, was a random target, and the possibility that someone else mailed Cho's manifesto to NBC News. More»

Governor's order would give more mental health info to dealers

(NEWSER) - Virginia Governor Timothy Kaine is considering closing the loophole that allowed Virginia Tech gunman Cho Seung Hui to buy guns despite his dangerous and conspicuous mental illness. A judge ruled Cho mentally ill in 2005, but didn't commit him, so his records were not in the data base dealers consult. More»

Officials say they didn't have grounds to arrest, mandate treatment

(NEWSER) - Police questioned Virginia Tech shooter Cho Seung-Hui twice in 2005, after two women accused him of accused making unwanted contact, the Virginia Tech police department said this morning. The same semester, poetry professor Nikki Giovanni had him removed from her class. But since Cho made no direct threats, the police could not legally take action against him, they say. More»