Virginia Tech is on lockdown today with reports of a gunman on the campus

[googlead tip=”patrat_mare”] Virginia Tech, the place of the worst campus shooting in U.S. history, is on lockdown today with reports of an armed man on the campus. Latest on today lock down at Virginia Tech.

“This campus experienced something terrible 4 years ago,”

Campus spokesman, Larry Hincker said at a press conference.

“Strictly as an abundance of caution we are going to keep the campus under alert status and ask people to stay indoors.”

9:09 a.m – Three students attending the “Higher Achievement” camp at the Blacksburg, VA, campus reported seeing a man holding what seems to be a handgun, according to Virgnia Tech Police Chief ,Wendell Flinchum.

 “The juveniles were interviewed…officers confirming that there information is credible and at that point we decided to issue the alert,” Flinchum said.

“We have not had any further reported sightings. We have not had any reports of anyone suspicious or anyone that fits this description.”

The man was described by police as 6” tall, light brown hair and was wearing a blue and white striped shirt, gray shorts and brown sandals. He did not have facial hair or glasses. In addition, police said that the campers told them the man was shielding the gun with a cloth. Flinchum also said that the man was not pointing or shooting the weapon.

Virginia Tech on Lockdown Press Conference Video

Students received text messages and emails that an armed man is on the campus:

[googlead tip=”vertical_mare” aliniat=”dreapta”]”Person with a gun reported near Dietrick. Stay inside. Secure doors. Emergency personnel responding. Call 911 for help.”.

9:37 a.m.: A message was posted on the university’s web site alerting students that there was a gunman near Dietrick Hall. Dietrick Hall is a three floors building, more than 92,000 square foot dining facility on the campus. Students have been adviced to stay indoors.

“Even the construction zone has come to a halt. The whole construction crew is gone. There is no traffic, no movement, no anything,” Virginia Tech communications officer Lynn Davis told CNN soon after the alert was issued.

Some of the professors who were conducting classes at the time of alert have kept their students in their classrooms.

Virginia Tech police are working with several surrounding police units including the Virginia State Police, the Blacksburg Police Department and Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office for campus surveillance.

Summer classes are in session at the campus during this period. Campus spokesman Hincker estimated that a few thousand students are currently on the site. Students begin fall semester check-in on August 17 with fall classes starting August 22.

[googlead tip=”lista_mica” aliniat=”stanga”] April 2007: student Seung-Hui Cho, 23 year-old, shot and killed 32 students.

He wounded 25 others in the shooting rampage and that was the worst school shooting in U.S. history.

Cho had alarmed professors with his writings and was ordered to see a university psychologist.

Prior to the rampage, Cho had sent a multimedia letters, pictures and video to NBC News detailing his violent intention and delusional thinking.

His rampage spanned hours and involved two separate attacks. The shooting sparked a debate about the university’s system to alert students. At the beginning of this year, Virginia Tech was fined $55,000 for violating a federal law by waiting too long to notify students that an armed man was on the campus during the 2007 shooting.