Virgina Tech Massacre

Was reading about the Virginia Tech Massacre today in the Straits Times. It is totally unpredictable how someone can be. To think that he was a quiet young boy, who would have thought that he had a darker side that was hidden who would have the audacity to go on a rampage that killed 32 people and injuring 29 others before committing suicide.

Cho Seung-hui born in South Korea was a loner. Several former professors of Cho have stated that his writing was disturbing and he was encouraged to seek counseling. He had also been investigated by the university for stalking and harassing female students. In 2005, Cho had been declared mentally ill by a Virginia special justice and ordered to seek outpatient treatment.

Cho’s motives for the killings remain unclear. Early reports suggested that the killing was the result of a domestic dispute between Cho and previously alleged girlfriend Emily Hilscher,who was later revealed to have had no prior relationship with Cho. During the investigation, police found a suicide note in his dorm room, including rants about “rich kids,”"debauchery” and “deceitful charlatans” on campus. On April 18 2007, NBC News received a package from Cho timestamped between the first two murders and the rest of the massacre two hours later. It contained an 1,800 word manifesto, pictures, and 23 digital videos. In the videos Cho compared himself to Jesus Christ and expressed his hatred of the wealthy.

Cho probably did not have exposure to self development, even as a child. If he was exposed to it, he could have probably changed the way he responded to other people’s actions and would not resorted to this rampage.