Emily Hilscher
Student
Died in West Ambler Johnston Hall
The killer is thought to have become infatuated with Emily Hilscher, the first
person to die in the massacre. She was an 18-year-old freshman from rural
Rappahannock County in Virginia and was studying animal and poultry
sciences. On her Myspace page she wrote: "I am the pixie. My friends
are what keep me smiling. I live in bumf*ck…but I make the best of it."
Loretta Moon, a neighbour, said: "I knew her and her sister ever since
they were small girls. She comes from a wonderful family. She was a precious
girl."
Ryan Clark
Student / resident adviser
Died in West Ambler Johnston Hall
Ryan Clark, 22, was in his fifth year at Virginia Tech where he was known as "Stack"
and one of the leaders of the 330-strong university marching band. The
English and biology student was the resident supervisor in West Ambler
Johnston Hall and lived next door to Ms Hilscher. He is understood to have
responded to the first gunshots and been shot in the neck as he came to find
out what was going on. Sarah Davis, a trombone player in the Marching
Virginians, said: "He was always really friendly. If he didn't know
you, he'd introduce himself. "He was like, 'I want to know everybody."
Christopher James Bishop
Teaching Staff
Died in Norris Hall, Room 207, German class
Jamie Bishop, a 35-year-old adjunct professor of German at Virginia Tech, was
teaching his class on the second floor of the Norris Building when the
gunman entered the room and shot him. A graduate of the University of
Georgia, he travelled to the Christian-Albrechts-University at Kiel as a
Fulbright scholar in 1994. He also spoke Italian, French, Spanish and
enjoyed digital art. He met his wife, Dr Stefanie Hofer, during his
Fulbright year and according to his website, spent his free time battling "the
drudgery and ennui of the 40-hour work week, heroically pursuing creativity.
(Victory or no, the glasses always stay on.)"
Kevin Granata
Teaching Staff
Died in Norris Hall
Described as one of the top five biomechanics researchers in the US, Professor
Kevin Granata was teaching in the engineering faculty when his class was
attacked. His university webpage said that his work covered neuromuscular
control and biomechanical stability. He conducted orthopaedic research in
hospitals before joining the university and studied the movements of those
suffering from cerebral palsy.
Give Loganathan
Teaching Staff
Died in Norris Hall
Professor Loganathan, from Madras, in India, had been teaching at Virginia
Tech's Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering since 1982. He was
51. His brother GV Palanivel, who lives in Tamil Nadu, told NDTV, the Indian
news channel: "We all feel like we have had an electric shock, we do
not know what to do. He has been a driving force for all of us, the guiding
force."
Maxine Turner
Student
Died in Norris Hall
A senior chemical engineering student from Vienna, Virginia, Ms Turner was the
co-founder of Virginia Tech's Alpha Omega Epsilon Sorority. On the group's
website, she wrote: "We formed this sorority as a place for females who
had never had female friends, as a chance for them to meet great girls with
similar interests. Also for anyone looking for a support group, since
engineering is challenging. Lastly, as a chance to build professional skills
to help girls after graduation."
Reema Samaha
Student
Died in Norris Hall
Miss Samaha, from Centreville, Virginia, was a freshman and a member of the
university's contemporary dance ensemble. Internet dedications said that she
was recognised in the 2004 Critics and Awards Program for High School
Theater. A writer describing themselves as a cousin wrote on her Facebook
page: "Why did you have to be in that classroom Reema? I loved you like
my own sister. My life will never be the same without you in it. I can't
express how much I loved it when we all visited each other. All the good
times. All the Thanksgivings and the Easters. Everything."
Julia Pryde
Student
Died in Norris Hall
Ms Pryde, from New Jersey, was a master's student from Middletown, New Jersey,
examining pollution and soil erosion. She had carried out a feasibility
study on how Virginia Tech could do more to compost its waste. She was
reported missing "in the building at the time of the shooting" and
the following day her cousin, Pamela Monahan, wrote on Facebook: "I
just got word that my cousin, Julia Pryde... was indeed murdered yesterday.
Please pray for her family and friends."
Mary Read
Student
Died in Norris Hall, Room 211, French lesson
Miss Read, 19, was born in Korea but spent the last years of her life in
Annandale, Virginia, according to the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle. She
spent her summer holidays in upstate New York, where her uncle, Ted
Kuppinger, described her as "a beautiful girl, very caring and loving".
"We'd been following the news all day and hadn't heard anything,"
said Mr Kuppinger. "At first, we thought French and engineering class,
they weren't too close."
Liviu Librescu
Teaching Staff
Died in Norris Hall
The oldest victim of the shooting was a Holocaust survivor born in Romania.
Professor Librescu, 75, was an expert in aeronautical engineering who moved
to Virginia in 1985 after becoming an Israeli citizen. Reports described him
shielding his students when the gunman attacked. “My father blocked the
doorway with his body and asked the students to flee,” Joe Librescu, his
son, said in an interview from Tel Aviv.
Matt La Porte
Student
Died in Norris Hall
A 20-year-old freshman from Dumont, New Jersey, Mr La Porte was taking
university studies classes. On an internet profile he described his
interests as military, art, music, politics and the paranormal. He was a
heavy metal fan who kept a Myspace page in the name of Möttull Oakenhawk,
where yesterday a friend called "Turtle" wrote: "Wow 6 yrs
and it ends like this u were my barracks buddy... wtf this wasn't supposed 2
happen at least not 2 u, wow man... I don't think I can take another."
Ross Alameddine
Student
Died in Norris Hall, Room 211, French lesson
Mr Alameddine was a second year student from Saugus, Massachusetts, who died
in the French lesson. He had declared English as his major. His mother,
Lynnette, told the Boston Herald that she waited frantically for news before
a chaplain called to tell her that her 20-year-old son had died. “I thought
I saw my son injured on TV. I thought I recognized his legs. I talked to him
(Monday) night and he was so happy. I’m such a wreck.” A friend wrote on his
Facebook page: “R.I.P. Ross, we love you man and your memory will live on
forever with us all."
Brian Bluhm
Student
Died in Norris Hall in a hydrology class
Mr Bluhm, 25, was weeks away from finishing his master's degree in civil
Engineering and planning a career in water resources according to internet
postings. He was known as a baseball fan, supporting the Detroit Tigers.
Fansites recalled "a popular member of the Detroit Tigers internet
community". The Detroit Tigers Weblog wrote: "It’s a dark day. The
Detroit Tigers lost a great fan. Other Tigers fans lost a kindred spirit. A
sister lost a brother and parents lost a son."
Caitlin Hammaren
Student
Died in Norris Hall, Room 211, French lesson
Ms Hammaren was 19 and a member of the university's Resident Assistant staff
and a second year student majoring in international studies and French. “She
was just one of the most outstanding young individuals that I’ve had the
privilege of working with in my 31 years as an educator,” said John P.
Latini, principal of Minisink Valley High School, where she graduated in
2005. “Caitlin was a leader among our students.”
Daniel Perez Cueva
Student
Died in Norris Hall, Room 211, French lesson
Born in Peru, Mr Perez was studying international relations. Aged 21, he had
lived in the US for seven years and been studying at Virginia Tech for a
year, according to his mother, Betty Cueva.
Henry Lee
Student
Died in Norris Hall
Mr Lee was a freshman from Roanoke, Virginia, studying computer engineering.
Jarrett Lane
Student
Died in Norris Hall
Mr Lane was a final-year civil engineering student who grew up in Narrows,
Virginia, just 30 miles from Virginia Tech. He is believed to have been in
Prof Loganathan's class when the shooting started. From 2004-2006, he was
the recipient of a engineering scholarship. He played the trombone, American
football and basketball at high school. Daniel Farrell, Mr Lane's
brother-in-law, said: “He had a caring heart and was a friend to everyone he
met. We are leaning on God’s grace in these trying hours.”
Juan Ortiz
Student
Died in Norris Hall
Mr Ortiz was a final-year civil engineering student. Aged 26, he was from
Bayamon, Puerto Rico. He is believed to have been in Prof Loganathan's class
when the shooting started.
