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| Virginia Tech gunman acted alone, police say | Virginia Tech gunman acted alone, police say |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| The man who shot dead a police officer before turning the gun on himself at Virginia Tech's campus acted alone, investigators have said. | |
| Police spokeswoman Corinne Geller says they are still trying to determine why Officer Deriek Crouse was attacked. | Police spokeswoman Corinne Geller says they are still trying to determine why Officer Deriek Crouse was attacked. |
| She told journalists the gunman ran from the scene on Thursday and changed clothes before taking his own life. | She told journalists the gunman ran from the scene on Thursday and changed clothes before taking his own life. |
| The university was the site of the worst US school shooting, in 2007, when a gunman killed 32 people and himself. | The university was the site of the worst US school shooting, in 2007, when a gunman killed 32 people and himself. |
| Ms Geller told Friday's news conference that the gunman was not a student at Virginia Tech. | Ms Geller told Friday's news conference that the gunman was not a student at Virginia Tech. |
| But she declined to say more until the medical examiner confirms his identity and next of kin are notified. | But she declined to say more until the medical examiner confirms his identity and next of kin are notified. |
| Investigators have found no link between the gunman and Officer Crouse, a married father of five and 39-year-old Army veteran. | Investigators have found no link between the gunman and Officer Crouse, a married father of five and 39-year-old Army veteran. |
| The policeman was attacked while performing a routine traffic stop in a car park shortly after midday on Thursday. | |
| Suspect on tape | Suspect on tape |
| The gunman, who was not linked to the car that was pulled over, walked up and opened fire at close range, before fleeing on foot. | The gunman, who was not linked to the car that was pulled over, walked up and opened fire at close range, before fleeing on foot. |
| A video camera inside the officer's vehicle captured footage of the suspect. | A video camera inside the officer's vehicle captured footage of the suspect. |
| Ms Geller said the shooter then changed his clothes, put them in a backpack and left it behind a greenhouse. | Ms Geller said the shooter then changed his clothes, put them in a backpack and left it behind a greenhouse. |
| He killed himself after he was spotted by a police officer in another campus car park about half a mile away. | He killed himself after he was spotted by a police officer in another campus car park about half a mile away. |
| Earlier on Friday, Virginia State Police said in a news release that "ballistics evidence testing has officially linked the two fatal shootings". | Earlier on Friday, Virginia State Police said in a news release that "ballistics evidence testing has officially linked the two fatal shootings". |
| An official vigil is planned on Friday night. | An official vigil is planned on Friday night. |
| About 150 students gathered in a candlelight vigil on Thursday evening at the campus memorial for the shootings of four years ago. | About 150 students gathered in a candlelight vigil on Thursday evening at the campus memorial for the shootings of four years ago. |
| "Our hearts are broken again," said university President Charles W Steger. | "Our hearts are broken again," said university President Charles W Steger. |
| Officer Crouse received an award in 2008 for his commitment to the department's efforts to deter drink-driving. He was trained as a crisis intervention officer and a defensive tactics instructor. | Officer Crouse received an award in 2008 for his commitment to the department's efforts to deter drink-driving. He was trained as a crisis intervention officer and a defensive tactics instructor. |
| He was one of about 50 officers on the campus force and had served there for four years, joining about six months after the 2007 massacre. | He was one of about 50 officers on the campus force and had served there for four years, joining about six months after the 2007 massacre. |
| That tragedy prompted the university, which has about 30,000 students, to implement a highly sophisticated security alert system. | That tragedy prompted the university, which has about 30,000 students, to implement a highly sophisticated security alert system. |
| After Thursday's initial report of gunfire, the emergency procedure was activated. Texts and emails were sent to staff and students warning them to stay indoors. | After Thursday's initial report of gunfire, the emergency procedure was activated. Texts and emails were sent to staff and students warning them to stay indoors. |
| The campus was placed on lockdown for several hours as police and Swat teams scoured the area. | The campus was placed on lockdown for several hours as police and Swat teams scoured the area. |
| The bloodshed came on the same day as Virginia Tech appealed against a $55,000 (£35,200) fine imposed by the government for not reacting quickly enough to the 2007 massacre. | The bloodshed came on the same day as Virginia Tech appealed against a $55,000 (£35,200) fine imposed by the government for not reacting quickly enough to the 2007 massacre. |
| Thirty-two people died in April that year when a 23-year-old South Korean, Seung-Hui Cho, went on a gun rampage before turning the weapon on himself. | Thirty-two people died in April that year when a 23-year-old South Korean, Seung-Hui Cho, went on a gun rampage before turning the weapon on himself. |