Killer's writing 'disturbing'

2007-04-17 19:04

Blacksburg, Virginia - The gunman suspected of carrying out the Virginia Tech massacre that left 33 people, including himself, dead was identified on Tuesday as an English major from South Korea whose creative writing was so disturbing that he was referred to the school's counselling service.

Police and university officials offered no clues to 23-year-old Cho Seung-Hui's motive in the massacre, the deadliest shooting rampage in modern US history.

News reports said Cho may have been taking medication for depression, that he was becoming increasingly violent and erratic and that he left a note in his dormitory in which he railed against "rich kids", "debauchery" and "deceitful charlatans" on campus.

"He was a loner, and we're having difficulty finding information about him," said school spokesperson Larry Hincker.

Cho, a fourth-year student, arrived in the United States as a boy from South Korea in 1992 and was raised in suburban Washington, DC, said officials.

He was living on campus in a different dormitory from the one where Monday's shootings began.

Killer 'showed troubling signs'

The Chicago Tribune newspaper reported on its website that Cho left a note in his dorm room that included a rambling list of grievances.

Citing identified sources, the Tribune said he had recently shown troubling signs, including setting a fire in a dorm room and stalking some women.

Investigators believe Cho at some point had been taking medication for depression, reported the newspaper.

Professor Carolyn Rude, chairperson of the university's English department, said she did not personally know the gunman.

But she said she spoke with Lucinda Roy, the department's director of creative writing, who had Cho in one of her classes and described him as "troubled".

She said Cho was referred to the counselling service, but she said she did not know when, or what the outcome was.

Writing revealing or creative

Rude refused to release any of his writings or his grades, citing privacy laws.

Rude said: "There was some concern about him. Sometimes, in creative writing, people reveal things and you never know if it's creative or if they're describing things, if they're imagining things or just how real it might be.

"But we're all alert to not ignore things like this."

- AP