blacksburg transit has been shut down. the suspect in this case is a white male, gray sweat pants, a gray hat with neon green brims being released on the university website, wearing a maroon hoodie and carrying a backpack. we will continue to keep an eye on this as we gather more information. >>> meanwhile just minutes from now, the man arrested and charged with killing a 7-year-old in canton, georgia is set to face a judge for the very first time. 20-year-old maintenance worker ryan brunn will appear in court on charges he sexually assaulted, stabbed and beat the young girl to death. she was snatched from a playground and monday her body was pulled from a dumpster. police say they are confident brunn is the killer. >> this investigation will continue on for several months. this is a mammoth case. we believe that this horrendous crime was planned and calculated. >> the suspect's brother insists brunn is innocent calling him a kind-hearted person. >> this is just a big mistake. just because he works there, i just honestly t

greg deriek crouse will be laid to rest this afternoon during a memorial in blacksburg. the light -- he died in a line of duty when a gunman walked up to him and shot him. >> investigators are still looking for a motive in this case as they expect another emotional day at virginia tech. thousands are expected to gather for a final farewell for the campus police doctors are killed in a line of duty. people are taking their final exams there today and are taking steps to say goodbye. it is expected to be an emotional day at virginia tech today as thousands gathered to say a final farewell to the campus police officer killed in the line of duty. \ >> if i could say there was any person, soldier, police officer, that was a good person who would help somebody in need, it was him. >> 39-year-old officer deriek crouse was conducting a routine traffic stop when 22-year-old ross ashley, a student, walked up and shot him and then turned the gun on himself. >> andi cannot understand shooting a police officer for no reason. >> officer of cross was also a veteran, a husband, and a fa

drew levinson is at the campus in blacksburg with the latest. good morning, drew. >> good morning to you, randall. >> reporter: stunned would be a good way to describe the feeling on the campus of virginia tech university. five years since the mass killings here and now the students and faculty are dealing with another senseless tragedy. at virginia tech, students lit candles to remember a police officer killed in the line of duty and gathered near the same memorial that honors the 32 victims of the school's 2007 massacre. >> we just wanted to show the respect of what it means. it's another tough day. >> reporter: police say a gunman ambushed 39-year-old deriek crouse on campus when he made a routine traffic stop. >> they opened up his car door and when they hoped up, he fell out towards the ground. i'm sorry. i saw his face and he was covered in blood. >> reporter: the suspect who was not involved in the stop fled before apparently killing himself with the same gun. the school was locked down for hours as swat.w.a.t. teams and heavily armed pol

i'm peggy fox reporting live in blacksburg. back to you. >>> one question before you go. i heard the shooter may have possibly been a former officer himself and may have a military background. have you heard anything on that yet? >> reporter: we're still waiting more information on that but hopefully we'll get some in a news conference this morning. >> thanks, peggy fox live in blacksburg, virginia, this morning. >> we're getting a look inside campus buildings while the school was on lockdown from inside a building at targenson bridge. >> do not leave this room until you're told, do you understand? >> they were making sure the students were safe there. our coverage continues on web web be on web be web. >> all lanes of southbound 95 are back open in caroline county. they were closed until just a few hours ago as police investigated an officer-related shooting. that officer was shot during a traffic stop thursday afternoon. he returned fire, injuring the suspect. both were taken to a hospital in fredericksburg. police have not yet said what led to the shooting. the investi

we'll be live from blacksburg throughout the morning. you can follow the latest developments on our website, nbcwashington.com. >>> 6:06 is our time. today former prince george's county council member leslie johnson will be sentenced for her role in her husband's corruption case. leslie johnson pleaded guilty to destroying evidence back in june. her husband jack johnson told her to tear up and flush a developer's $100,000 check down the toilet and stuff nearly $80,000 into her underwear. leslie johnson is due in court at 10:30 this morning, and she faces up to 18 months in prison. >>> on tuesday of this week, former county executive jack johnson was steentenced to seve years and three months in prison for taking bribes. he was also ordered to pay $100,000 in fines. he apologized during the sentencing hearing and said he is, quote, haunted by his actions. >> our t[ baby coughing ] [ coughing continues ] [ female announcer ] more pollution from power plants means more childhood asthma attacks. [ labored breathing ] there's technology that

it was yet again another day in blacksburg. >> we will take care of you, i promise. dramatic scene played the outbuildings on virginia tech. >> do not leave this room. do you understand? >> the lockdown was called after killed a campus police officer. >> you are scared. all these emotions. >> a freshmen received an alert her cell phone while in the library. >> no one can leave, we are on lockdown. cannot leave. >> she recorded video of students peering out of windows. swat team members on the ground. >> i am thinking, this is all me.nd >> there were hours of junior.nty for this >> is anyone else hurt? there is a nervousness. is hard to imagine how more anguish this community can and door. night, more than 100 gathered at the moral the potters of 32 lives lost in 2007. the nation's deadliest campus shooting. >> it does not deserve to happen. with the lockdown lasted, students are trying to return to a new normal, while sympathizing with virginia tech's painful past. >> for all the gunny's that this of created by the trauma pilots, at virginia tech thisnts told me that

we'll be live from blacksburg throughout the morning. you can also follow all the latest developments on our website at nbcwashington.com. >>> today leslie johnson will face punishment for her role in her husband's corruption case. she pleaded guilty to destroying evidence in june. megan mcgrath is live outside the courthouse for what we can expect today. good morning, megan. >> reporter: good morning, joe. leslie johnson is due in court this morning. she pleaded guilty to evidence tampering, and under sentencing guidelines, she could get anywhere from one year to 18 months behind bars. it remains to be seen whether her attorneys asked to an exemption to those guidelines, something less than the minimum, just as her husband's attorneys did earlier this week. leslie johnson was arrested along with her husband jack johnson on november the 12th. a few weeks later on december the 6th, despite the charges against her, leslie johnson took the oath of office and began serving on the county council. as evidence mounted against her, leslie johnso

we are still waiting for police in blacksburg to report back to us on scene.ave been a number of reports of ambulances and first responders reporting to the campus right now, but the whereabouts of this gunman is the key concern and exactly what is transpiring beyond that picture that's coming back to us right now is live, megyn, but the question now is what part of the campus are authorities kind of setting up a perimeter and looking for this alleged gunman. megyn: you know, your heart has to go out to the students on that campus and to their family members who -- it's got to be in the back of your mind when you make a decision to go to virginia tech, just the history of that campus. there was an incident prior to the massacre, the one in 2007 with the gunman on campus, then came the massacre in april of '07, now you get reports of a shooting, perhaps one, as many as two people, and it is a sprawling campus. it is very large. you know, trying to track down one gunman at a school this size on a campus this size could be like trying to find a needle in a hay st

i'm peggy fox reporting live in blacksburg, back to you. >> awful story. thanks, peggy. >>> in just a few hours after thursday's violence at virginia tech, there was another shooting. this one involving a virginia state trooper. matt jablow has the details on that one from caroline county. >> reporter: the call came into virginia state police just before 3:30 this afternoon. 3:24 to be exact. >> illegal to be out here as a pedestrian. >> a pedestrian on the side of 95 south, about 10 miles south of fredericksburg, according to police, when trooper michael hamer responded, he found the pedestrian and put him in his patrol car. that's when things took a sudden and violent turn. >> a struggle insued inside the vehicle which resulted in shots being fired inside the vehicle. both the trooper and suspect suffered gunshot wounds. >> police would not say if the suspect had a gun nor if he tried to grab the trooper's gun. >> all of that was part of the on-going investigation. >> both the trooper and the suspect were taken to mary washington hospital in fredericksbu

he joins us now live from blacksburg with the very latest from the overnight. scott, good morning. reporter: good morning, charley. police here are trying to piece together what happened yesterday and they're starting to figure out a little bit of the storyline here. they've determined is the campus police officer and the apparent shooter both were killed by the same gun. so it looks like this was a murder followed by a suicide, but they're still trying to nail everything down. they haven't said that officially. they also don't have a motive for this shooting which has brought back so many terrifying memories here. sort of ironic on the campus at virginia tech because this happens on the same day as campus officials are on capitol hill arguing about what happened back in 2007, appealing a decision of wrongdoing then, aren't they? reporter: yeah. so the timing really was something to have them up on capitol hill appealing a $55,000 fine that the government had levied against the university because the response time was so slow back in 2007 during what was the worst shooting rampage,

fox 5's roz plater spent the day in blacksburg. >> reporter: this is a campus in mourning tonight. they may know the, who but they're still trying to process why this all happened. there are flags flying at half staff in honor of the virginia tech police officer that was gunned down, veteran patrol officer deriek crouse, husband and father of five. at the coliseum parking lot where it happened a small memorial is taking shape honoring him for his service both as a veteran and campus officer and about a thank you for saving lives. 4 1/2 years after one of the worst campus murders in modern u.s. history, students here wonder how this could have happened again. >> in the back of your mind you're like oh, god, please no, not again and then it just kept escalating and we truly are lucky that it only turned into what it was. >> this could have been us. n u this was a terrible, terrible accident and an act of senseless violence and he protected us and no one is going to forget that. >> everybody knows what happens and everybody knows that we just have to be strong. >> reporter: there are

it happened on the blacksburg main campus about five hours from baltimore and an hour southwest of roanoke. that's where we find abc's scott goldberg. scott, you're joining us live this morning. what is the feel as we begin to make it to first light? reporter: well, right now, charley, on the campus it's kind of a nervous feeling. the students yesterday had an impromptu vigil at a site of the memorial for the 2007 shooting, the worst massacre in u.s. history when 33 people including the shooter were killed. they came out here to remember -- or to think about the police officer who was shot yesterday and obviously they're still very much thinking about what happened almost five years ago and this happened to coincide with a visit by campus officials to washington to appeal a fine levied against the university because of the slow reaction time when that happened in 2007. this time around, though, there was a much quicker response. within six minutes of the shooting, the campus shut down, there was a lockdown, there were regular updates going to students and faculty. so in some respects peopl

a nightmare in blacksburg, virginia. a shooting on the virginia tech campus.wo people have been shot and killed, include a police officer. the gunman is still on the loose. the campus remains locked down. the officer was reportedly shot during what is being described as a routine traffic stop. a second victim was killed nearby in the parking lot. wjz will continue to update this story throughout the newscast. >>> a firefighter dies battling an apartment house fire. the massachusetts firefighter went into the building to help someone who was trapped, then got stuck in the fire when a portion of the house collapsed. at least one other firefighter has reportedly been hurt. no word on how that fire started. >>> a student jumps to the rescue when a school bus driver falls asleep at the wheel. here's the report from washington state. >> definitely a crash. nobody else noticed anything. and he was asleep. and he can't notice anything. >> 17-year-old emmanuel williams was riding to high school. while his school bus was on the freeway. emmanuel notices a bus driver is

steps to say goodbye to a man who work every day to protect the population in blacksburg. it is expected to be an emotional day at virginia tech as thousands gathered to say a final farewell to the campus police officers killed in a line of duty. >> just a good person who would help anyone in need. >> 39-year-old officer deriek crouse if was conducting a routine traffic stop on campus last week when 22-year-old " the up and shot and killed him and then turned the gun on himself >> . i cannot understand why someone would shoot a police officer for no apparent reason. many gathered last night for a viewing for the officer, who was also a veteran, a husband, and father of five. there are still questions about why this happened. >> the only thing that would bring closure is to know why. >> the funeral service will become webcast and the link will be post of the virginia tech homepage. a billiard serviburial service will follow. reporting from the newsroom, brianne carter, abc 7 news. >>> new this morning investigators searching for the gunman who shot a man in northeast washin

we rushed elaine quijano to blacksburg, virginia, and she is there tonight. e rain? >> reporter: scott, officials here are in mourning tonight. this is the first time a virginia tech campus police officer has been killed in the line of duty. virginia tech's campus was on lockdown and high alert for more than four hours. swat teams and heavily armed police swept into campus buildings and ordered students to stay indoors. >> do not leave this room until you're told? do you understand? >> yes, sir. >> reporter: it started when a gunman approached a campus police officer conducting a traffic stop. witnesses say the gunman immediately fled. freshman juliette fielding saw what happened next. >> then the police pulled up and his car door and when they opened it he just fell out towards the ground and i could see his face and it was covered in blood. i don't know if the blood was coming from his head or face exactly. and then they immediately started reviving him. >> reporter: police found another wounded person nearby. that person, who later died, is believed to be the gunm

the officer's funeral services were held at the coliseum in blacksburg where gov.cdowell delivered remarks. the officer is making a traffic stop when ross truett ashley walked up to him and shot him before turning the gun on himself. investigators are still trying to establish a motive for what appears to be an unprovoked attack. >> the supreme court is taking up the case of arizona's controversial immigration law. the law prompted protests and heated debate when it took effect last year. a federal judge has blocked some of the most controversial provisions cover such as requiring immigrants to carry papers and requiring police to arrest suspected illegal immigrants without a warrant. lowes, improvement store is sticking by its decision to yank its advertising despite opposition is facing over the move. the muslim community made apparent a ban on the store after they pulled their ad from a show which was about muslim life in america. they say the program became a lightning rod on the societal views on the project. one at california legislator is good -- is consider

evidence or the shooter's body on campus.red we are live in blacksburg. have some breaking news got word of within moments.few police have identified this , the gunman as a 22-year- from nearby radford university. there was an incident that took place the night before the shooting took place. it took place at radford. once again, a 22-year-old now the person the gunmen in the shooting. >> virginia tech senior was just steps away when officer deriek crouse was gunned down. >> i heard the shots, he kind of get going.hat to he realized what he had done. that is when i turned and as fast as i could. >> across the street, the officers-board camera captured the moment as well. the suspect bolted, changed spotted moments later by deputies. that is when he committed suicide. the campus is still reeling from the rampage four. -- 4.5 years ago. " i think everyone is very solemn today. the small memorial grows by minute near the site work crouse was gunned down. and would see the officer he was a great guy. such a gentleman. >> having witnessed his last on earth, he

theyyimmediately tried tt conttattfriends and family still in blacksburg. blacksburg.n today...on he campus of virgiiii teeh.authoritiis say during a routine raffic stop... a gunman shot and killed a campus police officer in the coliseium parking lot. this student eyewitnnss describes thh shooting: shooting:"hh juut feel out powards the ground, i could - see his faae anddit wass covered innblood, ann they just immediately started reviving him"poliieebeliive & the gunmmn thee ran to a nearbb paakiig lot... atf...fbi...and state police swwrmed the campus.the universiiy says wittinn 3 blastee studenns ann facultyy with emails, voicemails and -3 texts.virginia tech alumnn like john cahill... 300 miles away in nnapolls...also got theealerts: alerts:"what we ggt was literally every 15 minutes" there and childrrn of riends down thhre" 3 tech alumni here in annapolls say they werr deeply affected of memories off he 2007 mass shooting andda common spirri and love for ttch: tech:"well when you'ree18, and becomes your new family, my roommate was my maid of honorr in college, so i

we will have the latest from blacksburg, virginia, for you,,, -dad, why are you getting that?that's my cereal. is there a prize in there? oh, there's a prize, all right. is it a robot? no. is it a jet plane? nope. is it a dinosaur? [ laughs ] [ male announcer ] inside every box of heart healthy cheerios are those great tasting little o's made from carefully selected oats that can help lower cholesterol. stickers? uh-uh. a superhero? ♪ kinda. [ male announcer ] and we think that's the best prize of all. ♪

reporting from blacksburg, virginia, i'm bob barner, back to you. >> still a lot of questions. thank you, bob. >>> another pig story we are following this morning, judgment day for leslie johnson. a judge is expected to sentence the former prince george's county councilwoman today. >> she is sentenced for her role in her husband's bribe. >> it is leslie-on's turn find out how much time, if any, she will get behind bars. federal prosecutors are asking for 12 to 18 months in prison but johnson's attorneys reportedly will only ask for probation. the former county councilwoman pleaded filthy to witness and evidence tampering charges in the eight-year corruption scheme that was orchestrated by her husband and former county executive jack johnson. her infamous role now, stuffing nearly $80,000 in cash into her bra, under garment and flushing a $20,000 check down the toilet while the f p i was at the door. but she had no idea that her phone cast tapped and that her conversation with her was all recorded thrncht what do you want me to do with this family? >> put is in your panties and

we're reporting live in blacksburg. >> the president of rockford university released a statement. --adford university released a statement. frome're also hearing with the gunmen up south of washington. tonightzales is live with exclusive details. quickly finding that one of their thiss to blame for shooting at virginia tech. the reaction across the small town appears to be the same. under shock. >> they need to find out why. >> this is not the notoriety this town ever expected. this is where the 22-year-old gun men lived with his family and grew up. the large home nestled in the dark is completely tonight. like a normal kid. student.ing >> he was most recently living campus at radford university from virginia tech. his neighbors said ashley was quiet and kept to himself. >> i did not know it was that close to home. >> is quite a comedown community figure out why this man snapped. why he stole an suv at gunpoint attacked an officer. >> there are so many different factors. know-it was a business major, described as a hard worker. >> it is kind of scary because you want your kids to be

. >> we should point out that we have complete coverage of funeral live in blacksburg, virginia. news from another university campus. a linebacker from the maryland isf accused of disorderly conduct. was found behaving erratically just off campus. the officer asked him to stop but he ran away. he is a freshman from gaithersburg and turned 18 on friday. things are finally getting back in one northeast neighborhood, after a police ended with the suspect hiding in the house for several hours, locking down the surrounding area. this happened in the unit block -- and we have more with the very latest. >> for a few hours this was on edge. this was a stalemate in they had idea when this was going to end. >> swat team members escorting children out of made 4 of a trying day. she was visiting a friend who in this community. >> u.s. park police say that tried to pull over a in a trafficved violation but the driver would not stop. collided a fews blocks later. >> he struggled with one of the officers who was attempting to under a rest. officer sustained minor injuries and another was injure

he will then be buried in blacksburg.he family of the suspected gunman is offering their prayers and condolences in a statement. investigators still don't have a motive. >>> a virginia in the philippines this morning. 14-year-old kevin lundsman is from virginia. he was killed napped and held captive for five months by a group that his family sayss linked to schaid. he got away by tricking them, telling his captors he was going to wash near a river. he took off running for his life. american ambassador said kevin will be reunite with his family soon. >>> the penn state child sex abuse scandal heading back to court now. officerrer assistant coach jerry sandusky with a preliminary hearing. >> there are reports that one of the key witnesses expected to testify may not have actually seen an attack on campus. we want to warn you some of the details are disturbing and may not be suitable for kids to hear. >> reporter: this is critical. this is not just one of the key witnesses. this is the key witness to the prosecution's case.

5's bob barnard has been learning more about it, joins us live from the virginia campus down in blacksburg. bob. >> reporter: brian, officer crouse was from the nearby community of christiansburg. he was an army veteran, married, the father of five children and step children, his murder this afternoon touching off another terrifying day here at virginia tech. >> keep your heads up. we'll take care of your, promise. >> our hearts are broken -- you, promise. >> our hearts are broken again and we extend our deepest condolences. >> reporter: the university police officer shot and killed today was a four-year veteran of the department, a patrol officer ambushed during the routine traffic stop in the coliseum parking lot on campus. officials say the gunman was not the driver who was stopped by the officer. >> shortly before 12:30 p.m. virginia tech police received its first call advising that they had witnessed a subject approach the officer and fire a weapon at the officer and then leave the scene. >> reporter: university police say there were witnesses to the shootings and others who came upon

. >> reporter: the haunting specter of that cold april day looms in blacksburg. larry hincker: >> it's obvious the reason why you are all here is because this is a wanton, random act of violence on the campus with the name virginia tech. i don't believe you'd be here if that was otherwise the case. and we're are all here because of an angry young man who had easy access to violent killing weapons four years ago. i don't believe that i feel any less safe here than i would in any place, any other campus in the country. it is unfortunate that there, that this is not an uncommon occurrence in this country. >> reporter: today was to be the first day of exams in blacksburg, but finals have been delayed until tomorrow. the sprawling campus in the quiet mountains of southwest virginia, scene of such pain then and now was largely empty. a memorial is scheduled this evening to remember officer derek crouse. the 39-year-old army veteran was a father of five. he joined the tech police force six months after the 2007 killings. >> woodruff: and to the analysis of shields and b

doug mckelway is live at the virginia tech campus in blacksburg with the latest.oug, what else do we know about the suspect here? >> well, we have learned that he is the man who car jacked a 2011 per sadz suv from rat ford, virginia about 15 miles south of here. on webs of this week, apparently this car was parked in front of a real estate office in rat ford. the man went into the rae office brand doishing a handgun, demanding the keys. got those keys and hopped in the mercedes suv and took off. that car was not discovered until yesterday. it was found here on the campus of virginia tech. aside from that incident it turns out that he he had very relatively insignificant record at least that we have been able to determine in the few minutes since we found out his identity. he got a speeding ticket traveling 38 miles per hour in a 25 zone and that he a court appear innocence in february of 2012 in regards to that. but the arresting officer in that particular case was not officer krause, the officer whom he later shot. so that's basically it. very, very confusing and

. >>> family friends, and fellow officers were gathered in blacksburg for the funeral this afternoon thousands of students are expected to attend to are taking time out from their final exam schedule. it is expected to be another emotional day on the campus of virginia tech as thousands gathered to honor deriek crouse, the campus policeman who was fatally shot last week. he was conducting a routine traffic stop last thursday when the suspected shooter 22-year- old ross ashley walked up to his car and fatally shot him before turning the gun on himself. >> i cannot understand the concept. how can someone walked up and shoot a police officer. for no apparent reason? >>>>> deriek crouse had been with the department four years joining months after the 2007 campus massacre. >> if there was any person soldier, police of a stir that was a good person that would help anybody, it was him. >> hundreds gathered just before a viewing for the 39-year-old, one of the many signs of support. down the street at a baptist church the pastor prayed for deriek crouse. >> we are thankful for the work they

abc news, blacksburg, virginia. >> you can get the news on our web site and tomorrow morning we'll have the latest on the virginia tech shooting and good morning maryland starts at 4:30. >>> new tonight, investigating an accident that killed a teenager that happened around 5:00 tonight. police say the 16 year old girl was crossing the street when she was hit by a toyota rav 4. investigators are still trying to figure out who is at fault and so far no charges filed. >>> fewer people are dying in car crashes in maryland. the national highway administration says the numbers are down 10% from last year. there were 492 last year compared to 549 in 2009. >>> there will be more eyes watching you on the roads. the state highway administration says they will be installing speed cameras on the outer loop of the frederick road exit. they are replacing a bridge in the area. there will be a three week grace period. after that, 12 miles an hour or more over the speed limit, you can expect to get a 40-dollar ticket in the mail. >>> around the nation tonight, the outbreak is officially over. the center

authorities in blacksburg are trying to figure out why the shooting happened at all. the nightmare of gunfire at virginia tech came scream back yesterday in the middle of the day when someone ambushed an officer making a traffic stop. >> during the course of the stop, the officer was approached by a unknown male and shot. >> derrick was a friend to many in our department, derrick was a husband, derrick was a father, derrick was a son. >> he joined the police department a few months after the 2007 shootings that killed 33 people. police say the shooter was not involved in the traffic stop or connected to the university but not releasing his identity. he fled then late er a deputy found his body a half mile away killed by a bullet fired from the same gun. police say he changed clothes, they found a backpack holding the outfit. >> all you could see his face, he was covered in blood. >> reporter: the knife well and students came nooght grief gathering at the memorial honoring victims of the 2007 massacre. >> yesterday's shooting was the first real test for virginia tech's

live from blacksburg tonight. let's bring in some parents whose children were in the lockdown today. thank you very much for being with us tonight. and i know you had a child who was a student at virginia tech back in 2007 when that horrible incident happened where 33 people lost their lives. when did you find out that there was a similar situation today? >> this afternoon when i was at work my daughter texted me and then she called me and said, mom, did you get my text? and i said no and she said read it and call me right back. i read it and called her right back and i couldn't believe that there was a shooter on campus and that they were in lockdown. she was in the dining hall when she sent me the text. >> and what was your reaction when you heard about this today given that you are a parent of a child four years ago? >> well, i was out in southern west virginia and i didn't have a cell connection immediately at that point, but i did get an e-mail on my phone. and as soon as i did, i was able to get in touch wit

live from blacksburg tonight. let's bring in some parents whose children were in the lockdown today. thank you very much for being with us tonight. and i know you had a child who was a student at virginia tech back in 2007 when that horrible incident happened where 33 people lost their lives. when did you find out that there was a similar situation today? >> this afternoon when i was at work my daughter texted me and then she called me and said, mom, did you get my text? and i said no and she said read it and call me right back. i read it and called her right back and i couldn't believe that there was a shooter on campus and that they were in lockdown. she was in the dining hall when she sent me the text. >> and what was your reaction when you heard about this today given that you are a parent of a child four years ago? >> well, i was out in southern west virginia and i didn't have a cell connection immediately at that point, but i did get an e-mail on my phone. and as soon as i did, i was able to get in touch wit

for the past four years he works to protect students and staff in blacksburg. last night more than 100 members,hokie nation gathered them to see that -- >> i am without words. >> one freshman was on campus at the time of the tragedy. she was ordered to stay in the library where she got some of the chaos and her cell phone. >> you are hurt and scared at the same time and you have all these emotions. >> this situation is all too familiar for the virginia tech family. in 2007, gunmen killed 32 people before turning the gun on himself. coley adams daughter was one of the victims. >> the similarities between what happened to them four years ago and what happened today is almost uncanny. we had the first tragedy. >> the president of the university called this i want an act of violence. in a letter to the school, he said i encourage you to seek out consolation in the company of your fellow hokies, those who understand how these events should bus into better people. that vigil is scheduled for 6:30 tonight. on the virginia tech campus >>> for updates 24 hours today, go

virginia tech was too slow in notifys students, faculty, and staff about a gunman loose on the blacksburgs. the shooting spree left three people dead. the school was fined for violating a federal law that requires timely warnings about safety threat. virginia tech says it acted appropriately. >>> a high school girl from montgomery county is recovering after she was stabbed at a school parking lot. police say she was stabbed several times outside of northwood high school after she and five or six other girls got into a fight. the girls had all attended a basketball game between northwood and kennedy high school. police are not saying what the victim's condition is, but they expect her to survive. they also said they're still searching for the suspect. >>> today a house subcommittee will research whether the district is ready for natural or manmade disasters. it's prompted in part by the gridlock that followed the 5.2 magnitude earthquake back in august. the quake damaged several buildings, including the national cathedral and the washington monument. subcommittee members are concerned abou

hundreds gathered on the virginia tech campus in blacksburg for the funeral of 3-year-old officer derek krause. he was remembered as a diehard pittsburgh steelers fan and a friend they could count on. many of those who came were law enforcement officials, reminded of the dangers they face every day as they serve and protect. >> for us, it is who we are. it's what we do. it's what derek did. >> virginia governor bob mcdonald spoke with krause's commitment to being a lifelong public servant who also served in the army in iraq. for the last four years he went to work here protexting the citizens of the state and the students and faculty and the administration of virginia tech. >> reporter: krause was making a traffic stop last thursday when police say a 22-year-old student at a nearby college walked up to his cruise and shot him. the shooter, 22-year-old ross ashley, killed himself soon after. krause is survived by his wife along with his five children and stepchildren. >> the sacrifices derek was willing to make, are idle words on parchment. thank you to the family for the amazing sacrifi

virginia tech was too slow in notifying students, faculty, and staff about a gunman loose on the blacksburg campus. the 2007 shooting spree left 33 people dead. the government fined the school $55,000 for violating a federal law that requires timely warnings about safety threats. virginia tech says it acted appropriately. >>> prosecutors have decided not to press any charges in the death of a george washington university student. patrick casey died back in september after a late night altercation at a mcdonald's restaurant on "m" street northwest. the 33-year-old was an army veteran who had returned from afghanistan. "the washington post" reports that casey's death has been classified as a justifiable homicide by citizen. at first his parents said he was sucker purcnched while he was trying to break up a fight. but police say casey was involved in the fight and may have even started it. >>> the judge has thrown out a key piece of evidence in the trial of the man accused of killing his boss at the suburban hospital in bethesda. police say keith little stabbed kenneth brockington jr. to death

. >>> hundreds gathered on the virginia tech campus in blacksburg today for the funeral of campus officer dereik crouse. law enforcement officials, lots of them, honored their fallen brother killed in the line of duty on thursday. his colleagues spoke about him as a loving husband, father and a diehard pittsburgh steelers fans. virginia governor bob mcdonnell praised his commitment to being a lifelong public servant. >> without these sacrifices that derrick was willing to make, they're idle words on parchment and our freedoms are shallow. so thank you to the crouse family for this amazing sacrifice of love that you have given to your fellow 8 million virginians. >> crouse was making a traffic stop when a 22-year-old student at a nearby college walked up to his cruiser and shot him. the shooter, 22-year-old ross ashley then killed himself. crouse was also an iraq veteran and he survived by his wife, his five children and stepchildren. >>> president barack obama and iraq's prime minister promise to cooperate as the u.s. prepares to withdraw the last fighting forces from iraq this month. the

first here is danielle in blacksburg, virginia. >> reporter: police say they know the identity of the suspected gunman in thursday's deadly virginia tech shooting. >> he is not a virginia tech student. >> reporter: they are not releasing his name until they identify next of kin. police still do not know why he walked up to 39-year-old derek kraus during a routine traffic stop on campus and shot him. >> you can see his face covered in blood. >> reporter: police later found the suspect a half-mile away wearing different clothes. they say he had stuffed the old clothes in a back pack. he apparently killed himself with the same gun. heavily armed police swarmed the campus as it went into lock- down for hours. the scene brought back memories of 5 years ago when a gunman killed 32 people before taking his own life. it remains the deadliest mass shooting in modern u.s. history. police say they have dashboard camera video of the suspect from the officer's car shows the man holding a handgun. >> the clothing that this individual had open at the vehicle and based on eyewitness descriptions matc

funeral services for officer deriek crouse will begin in two hours on the blacksburg campus. our surae chinn has more. >> reporter: students, faculty and staff are gathering on camp us to honor the life of 39- year-old virginia tech police officer deriek crouse. his family is trying to come to grips with the unspeakable tragedy. >> i was like it can't be him. because you know, if you make it through iraq, you can make it through anything. >> a large legion of law enforcement are expected to attend from across the country. police say the shooter, 22- year-old part-time radford student ashley gunned down the officer who was making a routine traffic stop. >> do not leave this room until you're told. >> the university went on lockdown until officers learned the shooter turned the gun on himself. the hokey nation reminded once again of tragedy, remembering the terror of the 2007 massacre that took 33 lives, including the gunman. but they also know how quickly the campus comes together in times like these. >> i'm proud i live in a community where everyone comes out and they support

in blacksburg, i'm peggy fox. back to you. >> thank you, peggy. we'll have more from virginia tech tonight on 9news now beginning at 5:00 p.m. and of course, we'll have updates throughout the day on our web site at wusa9.com. >>> virginia state police have identified the trooper shot in the line of duty yesterday afternoon. senior trooper m. h. hamer was wounded while investigating reports of a man walking along southbound i-95 in caroline county. police say that the trooper found the pedestrian and put him in his car. there was a fight that broke out and then shots. it is unclear right now how many guns were involved or who fired the shots. the suspect suffered life- threatening injuries. the trooper's injuries are serious but they are not life- threatening. >>> today, virginia democrats are heading to court. the issue is which party will control the state senate? right now, the parties are evenly split, 20/20. lieutenant-governor bill bolling has the tie-breaking vote. and he's a republican. democrats say that he should not have a stay say in th