Police arrest armed man at Woodbridge college

[alby]

This should be an interesting development to keep tabs on.


Originally published 04:20 p.m., December 8, 2009, updated 04:21 p.m., December 8, 2009
Police arrest armed man at Woodbridge college

ASSOCIATED PRESS

WOODBRIDGE, Va. -- Police in Northern Virginia have arrested a man after being called for reports of an armed student on a community college campus.

Prince William County police spokeswoman Sharon Richardson said officers responded Tuesday to an "active shooter" situation at the Woodbridge campus of the Northern Virginia Community College. Police were called after a gunman was reported in the main administration building. No injuries have been reported.

The college implemented emergency lockdown procedures.

Police tactical teams are conducting a safety sweep of the campus. It was not immediately clear whether any shots were fired.

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/200 ... ge//print/

[alby]

The Plot Thickens....



Shots fired; man with gun arrested at NVCC's Woodbridge campus

Update, 6:50 p.m.:

Police identify the alleged gunman as Jason Michael Hamilton, 20, of Baneberry Circle in the Manassas area. He is charged with attempted murder and is being held without bond. The intended target was his math teacher, police said.

Update. 5:20 p.m.:

Prince William Police Sgt. Kim Chinn gave this account at an afternoon update. It explains how the situation ended peacefully, but still leaves some questions:

She said there was a campus police officer behind the school building doing a traffic stop when he heard shots. Students fleeing the building told him that there was a man with a gun. He radioed to Prince William police, who were on the scene in minutes.

Police still have no clear picture of the shooting itself, but know that the teacher ducked and the shot missed. There were students in the classroom at the time, but they don't know how many. They don't know if the gunman entered the classroom or shot from the hall.

When police arrived, the shooter was in the hall without the gun in his hand. He cooperated and showed police where the gun was and was taken into custody without a fight.


Update, 4:58 p.m.:

A student inside the building, Michelle Wittkoff, said she was inside a classroom on the third floor and did not hear any shots. A student from another class walked in and told her class there had been a shooting. Wittkoff said she looked outside and saw numerous police officers with their guns drawn.

The class began to file out, but a school official instructed them to stay in the classroom and they have been for more than two hours awaiting an "all clear" sign, Wittkoff said. They are still waiting.

While the students were in the hallway, Wittkoff saw a young man in handcuffs being led down the stairs from the fourth floor by police. She said he was a white male in his early 20s, wearing a dark blue hooded sweatshirt, blue jeans, with wavy light brown hair.
"He didn't look too happy," she said, but he was not speaking.

After an hour of waiting, an announcement was made over the school intercom that students should remain in their classrooms. "It doesn't seem like they have a plan," she said.

Update, 4:45 p.m.:

Carlene Mackereth, a spokeswoman for Northern Virginia Community College, said she believes that two shots were fired. She also said many students inside the building are still on lockdown, as police ensure there is no more danger. She did not know how many students or faculty are affected.

Update, 4:39 p.m.:

The school posted a statement on its Web site saying all classes on the Woodbridge campus are canceled tonight, including those at Freedom High School. The statement also says families seeking information about students, staff or faculty should meet at the parking lot of Freedom High School.

Update: 4:22 p.m.:

Police Sgt. Kim Chinn said the shooter walked into a classroom inside the administration building and was aiming for a female teacher. The teacher hit the floor and was not injured. It "appears to be an upset student," Chinn said.

Original Post:

A man with a high-powered rifle opened fire at an administration building on the Prince William campus of Northern Virginia Community College, but no one was injured and the man was in custody. The incident caused the college to shut down Tuesday afternoon.

Prince William police confirmed that shots were fired, but they wouldn't say how many.

Police were called at 2:40 p.m. to the college's main administration building in Woodbridge for a report of shots fired, police said.

Police treated the report as an "active shooter" situation, Officer Erika Hernandez said, and the college launched an emergency lockdown.

Campus and Prince William police searched the campus and took an adult male into custody, police said. They did not release any additional information about the suspect.

Police were making safety sweeps of the campus at 3:50 p.m. to determine whether any other dangers were present, Hernandez said.

The campus remained on lockdown late Tuesday afternoon, and it was not clear whether evening classes would be held.

Roads around the campus also are closed.

-- Tom Jackman and Jennifer Buske

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/crime- ... novas.html

[zephyp]

My heart fell when I saw that this morning. The only saving thing is it was reported as a high powered rifle and not a HG. Still a bad situation and my prayers go out to the victim and family.

[allingeneral]

I just don't understand why people are so stupid. This kid is 20 years old and now faces a lifetime of difficulties because of a dumb decision to shoot at someone.

So, now we responsible folk have to suffer under laws and regulations because of the dumb actions of a few. It's unfortunate that our country no longer operates under the principle "Survival of the Fittest" (i.e. this guy goes to jail for a long time), but instead panders to the "Least Common Denominator" (i.e. the left wing fires up the propaganda machine and starts pushing for increased restrictions on our freedoms because dimwits can't seem to handle freedom).

This may be a bit harsh or extreme, but if there is video proof that this guy fired shots at someone for no apparent reason, then perhaps he needs to be dealt with in the harshest possible manner to ensure that he doesn't attempt something like this ever again. He crossed the line, and for his transgression should be put to death. I'm tired of messing around with these people. I'm tired of paying tax dollars to house criminals for tens of years. If you're stupid enough to do something of this magnitude, then you don't deserve to breathe the same air that I do.

</rant>

[goodoleboy]

I go to another campus of the same College(NVCC) and I can say it kinda wierded me out getting a text telling me someone was shooting at the Woodbridge campus. I would say this is as valid an argument for carry on colleges as is possible without someone dying(V.Tech, etc...)

[zephyp]

I just don't understand why people are so stupid. This kid is 20 years old and now faces a lifetime of difficulties because of a dumb decision to shoot at someone.

So, now we responsible folk have to suffer under laws and regulations because of the dumb actions of a few. It's unfortunate that our country no longer operates under the principle "Survival of the Fittest" (i.e. this guy goes to jail for a long time), but instead panders to the "Least Common Denominator" (i.e. the left wing fires up the propaganda machine and starts pushing for increased restrictions on our freedoms because dimwits can't seem to handle freedom).

This may be a bit harsh or extreme, but if there is video proof that this guy fired shots at someone for no apparent reason, then perhaps he needs to be dealt with in the harshest possible manner to ensure that he doesn't attempt something like this ever again. He crossed the line, and for his transgression should be put to death. I'm tired of messing around with these people. I'm tired of paying tax dollars to house criminals for tens of years. If you're stupid enough to do something of this magnitude, then you don't deserve to breathe the same air that I do.

</rant>

I'm with you Rick but regardless of rights, privileges, or laws there will always (always) be some group of twits that do stupid things. Its like computer or network security. We all know that the only truly secure computer is one still in the box it was delivered.

Likewise, the only secure society where there are no rights violated, no laws broken, or no privileges taken for granted is the one where we are all safely tucked away in boxes too.

[gregj]

Got an update to this story, and it's kinda freaky. A coworker just came in and told me the guy that did the shooting, was buying a rifle the same time my coworker was buying a shotgun!!! This was at Dicks in Woodbridge. The rifle was a Marlin XL7 30-06. The guy immediately set off my coworkers "radar", as he didnt fit the manner of a typical gun enthusiast. He was very small in stature, but what really was noticed by my coworker was his mannerisms - very meek, timid, etc - just didnt fit the mold, if you will. This was obviously his first purchase (and last) as he didnt know how to fill out the p/w. My coworker doubted it was even cleaned, or he shot it prior to his actions. It's probably this guy's lack of any gun skills that probably saved a lot of people. It's too bad this void in his personality couldnt have been picked up on sooner.

This guy needs some help, and should be sent away for a long time, so he can get plenty of it.

[goodoleboy]

I have people in my classes that were in the classroom around the one he did the most shooting in and lemme tell you, these classrooms are decent in size, but it doesn't take a 30-06 do something in there. The fact that this this low life shot two times at close range and missed says something about how well he knew his firearm and the operating condition it was kept in. I tell you one thing, I have 2 years until I can legally carry a firearm and by that time I will be at UVA, and I can guarantee you that I will be carrying a firearm even if I have to live in off campus housing to do it.