33 die in campus massacre

Flinchum said authorities were exploring whether two recent bomb threats on campus were related to the shootings.

Virginia Atty. Gen. Bob McDonnell said late Monday that his office probably would launch a review of the case as well.

The killing spree at Virginia Tech was the deadliest such incident in modern U.S. history, outstripping the 1991 mass murder at a Luby's Cafeteria in Killeen, Texas, in which 23 people were gunned down.

It also surpassed the 1999 toll at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colo., where two teenage gunmen killed 13 people and themselves.

In Washington, President Bush expressed his regrets to the families of the Virginia Tech victims. "Schools should be places of sanctuary and safety and learning," he said. "When that sanctuary is violated, the impact is felt in every American classroom."

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Zucchino and Reynolds reported from Blacksburg and Braun from Washington. Times staff writers Molly Hennessey- Fiske and Adam Schreck in Blacksburg; Richard A. Serrano, Josh Meyer, Faye Fiore, David Willman and Greg Miller in Washington; and Times researchers John Beckham in Chicago and Jenny Jarvie in Atlanta contributed to this report.

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(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX)

'Please stay put'

A timeline and the text of e-mails sent Monday by Virginia Tech officials to students and staff after the first 911 call at 7:15 a.m., which reported a shooting in West Ambler Johnston Hall, a dormitory.

E-mail sent at 9:26 a.m.

Subject: Shooting on campus

A shooting incident occurred at West Ambler Johnston earlier this morning. Police are on the scene and are investigating.

The university community is urged to be cautious and are asked to contact Virginia Tech Police if you observe anything suspicious or with information on the case. Contact Virginia Tech Police at 231-6411

Stay attuned to the www.vt.edu. We will post as soon as we have more information.

About 9:45 a.m., a second shooting occurs, at Norris Hall

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A second e-mail is sent at 9:50 a.m.

Subject: Please stay put

A gunman is loose on campus. Stay in buildings until further notice. Stay away from all windows.

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A third e-mail is sent at 10:16 a.m.

Subject: All classes canceled; stay where you are

Virginia Tech has canceled all classes. Those on campus are asked to remain where there are, lock their doors and stay away from windows. Persons off campus are asked not to come to campus.