Virginia Tech President lays wreath in remembrance of 32 killed in shooting
BLACKSBURG, Va. (WFXR) — Virginia Tech held a moment of silence to honor the lives of 32 students and faculty members killed during a mass shooting 17 years ago.
On April 16, 2007, a gunman opened fire at a dorm and in four classrooms inside Norris Hall. A total of 25 students and five faculty members died during the shooting. All victims ranged from 18 to 76 years old.
This marked the deadliest mass shooting in Virginia’s history.
On Tuesday, faculty, staff, and families gathered at the April 16 Memorial on campus to remember the victims who were taken for their loved ones.
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At 9:43 a.m., Virginia Tech President Tim Sands and his wife Laura placed wreaths at the memorial. Silence fell over the memorial and many bowed their heads as cadets walked to each victim’s plot.
Ashley Sarno a Virginia Tech Cadet Sergeant told WFXR News that this memorial helps bring together the community on campus. She shared that even though she doesn’t know each victim personally, she sees the impact the event has on people.
“Matthew La Porte, he was a cadet, he tried to stop the attack. He did it completely out of love for his classmates. That’s what we cadets specifically are very involved in this,” shared Ashley Sarno, Virginia Tech Cadet Sergeant, at the ceremony.
At 11:27 p.m. on Tuesday members of the Virginia Tech Corp of Cadets stood guard at the memorial for 32 minutes. After, the candle flame was extinguished.
Since the mass shooting the survivors and victim’s families have been working tirelessly to push gun safety measures.
Watch the event live here:
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