A puzzling start to a deadly day

At another bar, journalism instructor Roland Lazenby assessed the mood this way: "Everybody here is basically numb."

Back at Cho's dorm

At 7 p.m., law-enforcement officers rapped on the door of Harper Hall 2121.

They went into Cho's bedroom and began packing his belongings into brown bags.

According to the search warrant, police were seeking "tools, documents, computer hardware ... weapons, ammunition, explosives ... instructional manuals for criminal acts of mass destruction and acts of terror."

The police spent five hours examining Cho's room and interviewing roommates. When they left at midnight, they told Grewal that Cho was suspected in the mass shooting. He had been found dead in Norris Hall, apparently of a self-inflicted wound, the guns at his side, a receipt for one still in his backpack.

Grewal remembered running into Cho in the bathroom hours ago.

So much had changed.

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erika.hayasaki@latimes.com

richard.fausset@latimes.com

adam.schreck@latimes.com

This story was reported from Blacksburg by Hayasaki, Fausset and Schreck, and written by Times staff writer Stephanie Simon. Times staff writers Molly Hennessy-Fiske in Blacksburg and Greg Miller in Washington also contributed to this report.

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(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX)

Tracking the shootings

In the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history, a gunman killed 32 people Monday before taking his own life at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Va.

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Timeline of events (All times Eastern)

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Here is a recap of the shooting rampage and efforts by university officials to warn faculty, staff and students via e-mail.

7:15 a.m.

Police receive first 911 call about West Ambler Johnston dormitory shooting. Students Ryan Clark and Emily Hilscher die at the dorm.

8 a.m.

Classes begin.

8:25 a.m.

School officials meet to assess shooting and decide how to notify those on campus.

9:26 a.m.

First e-mail announces shooting at West Ambler Johnston dormitory, urges caution.

9:30 a.m.

Campus locked down.

9:45 a.m.

Police receive first 911 call to Norris Hall. In shooting rampage there, 31 people die, including the gunman. Among the dead are German professor Christopher Bishop and engineering professor Liviu Librescu, who were shot in their classrooms, and French class students Ross Alameddine, Daniel Cueva and Reema Samaha.

9:50 a.m.

Second e-mail announces gunman loose on campus, announces lockdown.

10:20 p.m.

Third e-mail announces cancellation of classes.

10:52 a.m.

Fourth e-mail announces shooting at Norris Hall, reports gunman in custody.

12:07 p.m.

Campus closed, Tuesday's classes canceled.

About 1 p.m.

Police announce campus secure.

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Source: Published reports. Graphics reporting by Brady MacDonald