Virginia Tech shooting

Background

The Virginia Tech shooting was a school shooting that occurred on April 16, 2007, at two buildings, West Ambler Johnston Hall and Norris Hall, on the campus of the Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Virginia. The perpetrator, Seung-Hui Cho, a senior at the university, killed 32 people and wounded 17 others in two separate attacks before committing suicide.

The Shooter

Seung-Hui Cho was a South Korean-born resident of the United States and a senior-level undergraduate student at the university. He had previously been diagnosed with a severe anxiety disorder. During much of his middle school and high school years, he received therapy and special education support. After graduating from high school, Cho enrolled at Virginia Tech.

The Shootings

The attacks received international media coverage and drew widespread criticism of U.S. gun culture. It sparked intense debate about gun violence, gun laws, gaps in the U.S. system for treating mental health issues, the perpetrator's state of mind, the responsibility of college administrations, privacy laws, journalism ethics, and other issues. Newspaper editorials described the mass shooting as "a national tragedy" and "the worst in American history".

Aftermath

The immediate aftermath of the shootings led to widespread shock and mourning throughout the world. The university held a convocation ceremony to honor the victims and the university cancelled classes for the rest of the week. The incident also led to tighter security on campus and a review of Virginia's mental health policies.

Impact

The Virginia Tech shooting had a significant impact on the debate over gun control in the United States. The incident led to a tightening of gun laws in Virginia, including a new rule that required background checks for all firearms purchases.