Timeline of the April 16 shootings

Ten years after the fact, the April 16 shootings have become a singular unit in the Virginia Tech ethos. The community commemorates the tragedy as a whole rather than as 32 individual deaths and 23 non-fatal injuries. This piece explores the minute-by-minute breakdown of the incident, commemorating the singular tragedies, heroes, and critical decisions university and emergency officials had to face on April 16, 2007.

Timeline events are taken from the Virginia Tech Review Panel’s 2007 “Mass Shootings at Virginia Tech” report to then-Gov. Tim Kaine.

2007

April 16

8:45 p.m.

The last deceased victim is transported to the medical examiner’s office.

April 16

5:00 p.m.

The first deceased victim is transported to the medical examiner’s office.

April 16

1:35 p.m.

A report of a possible gunshot near Duck Pond proves to be another false alarm.

April 16

12:42 p.m.

Charles Steger announces that police are releasing people from buildings and that counseling centers are being established.

April 16

10:57 a.m.

A report of shots fired at the tennis courts near Cassell Coliseum proves false.

April 16

10:52 a.m.

A fourth email from the Virginia Tech administration warns of “a multiple shooting with multiple victims in Norris Hall,” saying the shooter has been arrested and that police are hunting for a possible second shooter.

April 16

10:51 a.m.

All patients from Norris Hall have been transported to a hospital or moved to a minor treatment unit.

April 16

10:17 a.m.

A third email from the Virginia Tech administration cancels classes and advises people to stay where they are.

April 16

10:08 a.m.

A deceased male student is discovered by police team and suspected to be the gunman: No identification is found on the body. He appears to have a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. He is found among his victims in classroom 211, the French class. Two weapons are found near

April 16

9:53 a.m.

The 9:42 a.m. request for all EMS units is repeated.

April 16

9:52 a.m.

The police clear the second floor of Norris Hall. Two tactical medics attached to the ERTs, one medic from VT Rescue and one from Blacksburg Rescue are allowed to enter to start their initial triage.

April 16

9:51 a.m.

Cho shoots himself in the head just as police reach the second floor. Investigators believe that the police shotgun blast alerted Cho to the arrival of the police. Cho’s shooting spree in Norris Hall lasted about 11 minutes. He fired 174 rounds, killed 30 people in Norris Hall plus himself

April 16

9:50 a.m.

Using a shotgun, police shoot open the ordinary key lock of a fourth entrance to Norris Hall that goes to a machine shop and that could not be chained. The police hear gunshots as they enter the building. They immediately follow the sounds to the second floor. Triage and rescue

April 16

About 9:45 a.m.

The police inform the administration that there has been another shooting. Virginia Tech President Charles Steger hears sounds like gunshots and sees police running toward Norris Hall. Back in 207 Norris Hall, the German class, two uninjured students and two injured students go to the door and hold it shut

April 16

9:45 a.m.

The first police officers arrive at Norris Hall, a three-minute response time from their receipt of the call. Hearing shots, they pause briefly to check whether they are being fired upon, then rush to one entrance, then another and then a third but find all three chained shut. Attempts to

April 16

9:42 a.m.

The first 911 call reporting shots fired reaches the VTPD. A message is sent to all county EMS units to staff and respond.

April 16

9:41 a.m.

A BPD dispatcher receives a call regarding the shooting in Norris Hall. The dispatcher initially has difficulty understanding the location of the shooting. Once identified as being on campus, the call is transferred to VTPD. (The panel estimated that the shooting began at this time based on the time it

April 16

9:40 until about 9:51 a.m.

Cho goes across the hall from room 206 and enters room 207, an elementary German class. He shoots instructor Christopher James Bishop and students near the front of the classroom, then starts down the aisle, shooting others. Cho leaves the classroom to go back into the hall. Students in room

April 16

9:31 – 9:48 a.m.

A VSP trooper arrives at the traffic stop of Thornhill and helps question him. A gunpowder residue field test is performed on him and the result is negative.

April 16

9:26 a.m.

Virginia Tech administration sends an email to campus staff, faculty and students informing them of the dormitory shootings.

April 16

9:25 a.m.

A VTPD police captain joins the Virginia Tech Policy Group as police liaison and provides updates as information becomes available.

April 16

9:24 a.m.

A Montgomery County deputy sheriff initiates a traffic stop of Hilscher’s boyfriend, Karl Thornhill, off campus in his pickup truck. Detectives are sent to assist with the questioning.

April 16

9:15 – 9:30 a.m.

Cho is seen outside and then inside Norris Hall. He chains the doors shut on the three main entrances from the inside. No one reports seeing him do this.

April 16

9:15 a.m.

Both police ERTs are positioned at the BPD (next door to campus) in anticipation of executing search warrants or making an arrest.

April 16

9:05 a.m.

Classes begin for the second period across campus, including in Norris Hall.

April 16

9:01 a.m.

Cho mails a package from the Blacksburg post office to NBC News in New York that contains pictures of himself holding weapons, an 1,800-word rambling diatribe and video clips in which he expresses rage, resentment and a desire to get even with oppressors. He alludes to a coming massacre. Cho

April 16

9:00 a.m.

The Policy Group is briefed on the latest events in the ongoing dormitory homicide investigation by the VTPD.

April 16

8:52 a.m.

Public schools in Blacksburg lock their outer doors upon hearing of the incident at WAJ from their security chief, who had heard of the incident on police radio.

April 16

8:25 a.m.

The Virginia Tech Policy Group meets to plan on how to notify students of the homicides.

April 16

8:20 a.m.

A person fitting Cho’s description is seen near the Duck Pond on campus.

April 16

8:19 a.m.

Crannis requests BPD ERT to respond for the same reason as the VTPD ERT.

April 16

8:16 – 9:24 a.m.

Officers search for Hilscher’s boyfriend. His vehicle is not found in campus parking lots, and officers become more confident that he has left the campus. VTPD and BPD officers are sent to his home; he is not found. A BOLO (be on the lookout) report is issued to BPD and

April 16

8:15 a.m.

Flinchum requests the VTPD Emergency Response Team (ERT) to respond to the scene and then to wait at the BPD in the event an arrest is needed or a search warrant is to be executed.

April 16

8:13 a.m.

Flinchum requests additional VTPD and BPD officers to assist with securing WAJ entrances and with the investigation.

April 16

8:11 a.m.

Blacksburg Police Chief Kim Crannis arrives on scene.

April 16

8:10 – 9:25 a.m.

Flinchum provides updated information via phone to the Virginia Tech Policy Group regarding progress made in the investigation. He informs them of a possible suspect, who is probably off campus.

April 16

8:00 a.m.

Classes begin. Flinchum arrives at WAJ and finds VTPD and BPD detectives on the scene and the investigation underway. A local special agent of the state police has been contacted and is responding to the scene.

April 16

7:57 a.m.

Flinchum notifies the Virginia Tech Office of the Executive Vice President of the shootings. This triggers a meeting of the university’s policy group.

April 16

7:51 a.m.

VTPD Chief Wendell Flinchum contacts the Blacksburg Police Department (BPD) and requests a BPD evidence technician and a BPD detective to assist with the investigation.

April 16

7:30 – 8:00 a.m.

A friend of Hilscher’s arrives at WAJ to join her to walk to chemistry class. The friend is questioned by detectives and explains that on Monday mornings, Hilscher’s boyfriend would drop her off and go back to Radford University where he was a student. She tells police that the boyfriend

April 16

7:30 a.m.

Additional VTPD officers begin arriving at Hilscher’s room. They secure the crime scene and start a preliminary investigation. Interviews of residents find that they are unable to provide a suspect description. No one on Hilscher’s floor in WAJ saw anyone leave Hilscher’s room after the initial noise was heard.

April 16

7:29 a.m.

VT Rescue Squad 3 arrives at Hilscher’s room.

April 16

7:26 a.m.

VT Rescue Squad 3 arrives on scene outside WAJ.

April 16

7:25 a.m.

Cho accesses his university email account (based on computer records). He erases his files and the account.

April 16

7:24 a.m.

The VTPD officer arrives at Hilscher’s dorm room in WAJ, finds two people shot inside the room and immediately requests additional VTPD resources.

April 16

7:21 a.m.

The VTPD dispatcher notifies the Virginia Tech Rescue Squad that a female student had possibly fallen from her loft bed in WAJ. A VTPD officer is dispatched to WAJ to accompany the Virginia Tech Rescue Squad, which is also dispatched (per standard protocol).

April 16

7:20 a.m.

The Virginia Tech Police Department receives a call on its administrative telephone line advising that a female student in WAJ had possibly fallen from her loft bed. The caller was given this information by another WAJ resident near Hilscher’s dorm room who heard the noise.

April 16

7:17 a.m.

Cho’s access card is swiped at Harper Hall. He goes to his room to change out of his bloody clothes.

April 16

About 7:15 a.m.

Cho shoots Hilscher in her room at WAJ. He also shoots Ryan Christopher Clark, a residential advisor. Clark, it is thought, most likely came to investigate noises in Hilscher’s room, which is next door to his. Both of the victims’ wounds prove to be fatal.

April 16

7:02 a.m.

Emily Hilscher enters WAJ after being dropped off by her boyfriend (the time is based on her swipe card record).

April 16

6:47 a.m.

Cho is spotted by a student waiting outside the West Ambler Johnston (WAJ) residential hall entrance, where his mailbox is located.

April 16

Around 5:30 a.m.

One of Cho’s other suitemates notices Cho clad in boxer shorts and a shirt, brushing his teeth and applying acne cream. Cho returns from the bathroom, gets dressed and leaves.

April 16

5:00 a.m.

In Cho’s suite in Harper Hall, one of Cho’s suitemates notices Cho is awake and at his computer.