13 years ago April 16, 2007, Seung-Hui Cho, a 23-year-old senior at Virginia Tech, opened fire in Blacksburg, Va. on campus. Before taking his own life, Cho killed 32 others, 27 being students while the remaining five were teachers at the university. 

According to an article posted by ABC News the day after the shooting, Cho had purchased multiple guns in the months leading up to the day the incident occurred. Authorities found two knives and extra ammunition belonging to Cho that he had in his backpack and authorities also believed Cho was the source of bomb threats targeting Virginia Tech the week prior. 

In addition to the 32 people that were killed, Cho also wounded 17. Heidi Miller, who graduated from HHS in 2006, was one of the students wounded after being shot in her left leg three times. 

“We were in class and we heard sort of weird sounds… Our professor looked out in the hall and she turned around and she tried to block the door and I hid under a desk. The shooter came into our room [twice] and then the second time, that’s where he shot himself,” Miller said in an interview with Nyah Phengsitthy in 2018. 

Last year being the 12th anniversary of the shooting, there were various exhibits held on campus to remember and honor the victims in addition to the annual remembrance blood drive and flags being flown according to KCRG News. 

This year, however, with the Coronavirus pandemic, methods of honoring the victims are limited. The blood drive was held yesterday virtually based off of an event posted by Richmond Hokies. Furthermore, according to We Remember VT, the Ceremonial Candle at the memorial was burned, but there was not a public ceremony held. There is a digital exhibit and the 3.2 mile run is being offered virtually until tomorrow. Despite various activities being cancelled, flags were flown statewide yesterday in honor of the victims just like last year based off of an article posted by 10 News. 

Because of Cho’s struggle with mental health, the attack resulted in mental health services being improved and debates over stricter gun controls according to an article written by Amy Tikkanen for Britannica.