Seung-Hui Cho and the Virginia Tech Massacre (2007)
Overview
On April 16, 2007, Seung-Hui Cho, a 23-year-old senior at Virginia Tech, carried out the deadliest school shooting in U.S. history. Armed with two semi-automatic pistols, Cho murdered 32 people and wounded 17 others before taking his own life. His actions shocked the nation and left a permanent scar on the Virginia Tech community.
Background
Cho was born in South Korea in 1984 and moved to the United States with his family in 1992. He struggled with severe social anxiety and was later diagnosed with mental health issues, including selective mutism and depression. Despite these warning signs, he was able to purchase firearms legally. On April 16, 2007, Cho carried out his meticulously planned attack in two phases on the Virginia Tech campus in Blacksburg, Virginia.
The First Attack: West Ambler Johnston Hall
At approximately 7:15 a.m., Cho entered West Ambler Johnston Hall, a co-ed dormitory. He shot and killed two students before fleeing the building.
- Emily Jane Hilscher, 19 – a freshman and animal sciences major
- Ryan Christopher Clark, 22 – a senior and resident assistant studying biology and psychology
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Account
