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Seung-Hui Cho

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Cho Seung-hui
File:Ht vatech cho 070417 sp.jpg
StatusDeceased (suicide)

Template:Koreanname Template:Korean name Cho Seung-hui (Korean: 조승희) (January 18 1984[1] – April 16, 2007) was the spree shooting murderer in the Virginia Tech massacre[2][3][4] of April 16, 2007, after which he apparently committed suicide, as his body was found among the victims. It is the worst incident of spree killing in United States history.

Biography

Cho was born in South Korea and emigrated to the United States (Detroit, Michigan) with his parents in September 1992.[5] According to Virginia Tech, Cho was an undergraduate student in his senior year as an English major. He was a South Korean national and was a permanent legal resident of the United States[6]. Cho had a permanent address in Centreville, Virginia, an unincorporated community in western Fairfax County located within the Washington Metropolitan Area.[7]. His parents run a dry-cleaning business and his sister is an alumnus of Princeton University. Cho graduated in 2003 from Westfield High School in Chantilly, Virginia [8].

A university spokesman described Cho as a "loner", and said university officials were having a hard time finding information about him.[9] A Korean club on campus reported that he rarely joined or talked with them at all.[10] Before the incident, Cho had shown signs of violent, aberrant behavior, including setting a fire in a dorm room and allegedly stalking a woman [citation needed]. He is also believed to have been taking medication for depression.[11]

Virginia Tech massacre

Main article: Virginia Tech massacre

According to television news reports on April 17, Cho left a note criticizing "rich kids," "debauchery," and "deceitful charlatans" before killing two people in a dormitory room on April 16 2007.[12] Two hours later, Cho crossed the campus to continue his rampage in a classroom building.[4] Police identified Cho by matching fingerprints on the guns used in the shootings with immigration materials.[4] The words "Ismail Ax" were found written on his arm in red ink.[13] Officials have described finding a March 9 2007, purchase receipt for a Glock 9mm [12] used in the assault[14] and note that permanent residents in Virginia may legally purchase firearms with proof of residency.[15] Cho bought the second weapon, a Walther .22 caliber pistol, last week. The serial numbers on both guns had been filed off. [16].

Cho committed suicide in Norris Hall with a gunshot to the head[17] as police closed in on him[18].

Writings

In addition to his "disturbing" suicide note, Cho's previous writing endeavors were apparently cause for concern. According to an article posted on the Smoking Gun, one play he wrote involved an adolescent arguing with his stepfather. The boy contemplates killing his stepfather, "I hate him. Must Kill Dick. Must Kill Dick. Must Kill Dick. Dick Must Die. Kill Dick", and at the end of the play the stepfather kills the stepson. [1]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ NPR
  2. ^ VT front page
  3. ^ John M. Broder. "Virginia Gunman Identified as a Student". New York Times. Retrieved 2007-04-17.
  4. ^ a b c "Gunman Identified as Massacre at Virginia Tech Enters Second Day". ABC News. Retrieved 2007-04-17.
  5. ^ "Campus gunman lived in U.S. since 1992 - official". Reuters. Retrieved 2007-04-17.
  6. ^ Gunman's writings raised concerns
  7. ^ Centreville Student Was Va. Tech Shooter
  8. ^ Gunman Is Described as Quiet and 'Always by Himself'
  9. ^ Gunman identified in Virginia Tech shootings
  10. ^ "범인은 '외톨이'" 조승희 누구인가, retrived from Chosun.com 07-04-17
  11. ^ "Virginia Tech Police Still Search for Motive After Identifying Shooter".
  12. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference Newsday was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  13. ^ Aamer Madhani. "Sources: College gunman left note", Chicago Tribune, April 17, 2007
  14. ^ "Gunman ID'd as student; tests tie same gun to both attacks". New York Newsday. Retrieved 2007-04-17.
  15. ^ "Shooter Identified as Cho Seung-Hui". ABC News. Retrieved 2007-04-17.
  16. ^ "Killer's Note: 'You Caused Me to Do This'". ABC News. Retrieved 2007-04-17.
  17. ^ David Schoetz, Ned Potter, Richard Esposito and Pierre Thomas and the staff of ABC News. "Killer's Note: 'You Caused Me to Do This'". ABC News. Retrieved 2007-04-17.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  18. ^ "CNN profile of Cho". CNN.

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