Two Dead After Virginia Tech Shootings

[Posted Friday Morning, December 9 8:30]

BLACKSBURG, Va. (AP) - Authorities are still sorting out why a Virginia Tech police officer was killed in a campus parking lot by a gunman who then apparently shot himself to death.

The university on Thursday identified the officer as Deriek W. Crouse, a 39-year-old Army veteran and married father of five who joined the campus police force about six months after the 2007 shooting rampage that left 33 people dead.

Crouse was killed after pulling a driver over in a traffic stop. The gunman, who wasn't involved in the traffic stop, walked into the parking lot and ambushed the officer.

Before it became clear that the gunman in Thursday's attack was dead, the school locked down the campus and used a high-tech alert system to warn students and faculty members to stay indoors.

[Posted 2:03 pm Thursday, December 8]

Collegiate Times is reporting on Twitter that there are "multiple reports of shots and police activity but most pressing appears to be in Squires." This is in reference to the Squires Student Center.

[Posted 1:58 pm]

The Collegiate Times reports that the shooter is still at large, Virginia Tech says the status of the shooter is unknown.

[Posted 1:52 pm]

A statement from the Director of News at Virginia Tech:

"Shortly before 12 pm, a Virginia Tech police officer stopped a vehicle on campus in the Colosseum parking lot .. during the stop.. the officer was shot and killed.. witnesses said the suspect fled on foot... heading to the parking lot.. a second person was found.. that person was said to be deceased."

[Posted 1:42pm]

The Collegiate Times reports that someone has surrendered at the performing arts center, but it's not clear if that person was a suspect.

[Posted 1:35 pm]

Virginia Tech's Alert system reports that "A potential second victim is reported at the Cage lot."

[Posted 1:27 pm]

The Associated Press reports that there's a campus-wide alert telling students and faculty to stay inside and lock doors.

The suspect is described as a white male wearing gray sweat pants, gray hat with neon green brim, maroon hoodie and backpack.