I heard about this early in the morning. It was about 10:30 a.m., and the Yahoo! homepage said two students were killed at Virginia Tech. I was in a hurry. I had to be somewhere by 11:00, and was on the verge of running late. Hearing about two deaths was similar to watching the evening news; it’s a horrible, horrible thing, but in a country where murder has become commonplace, it’s nothing you really think; at least nothing you care to take the time to read about.

I had a meeting at 11:00. Grabbed lunch around noon. Felt bad that I had to ignore Busted Play this day because of a report that was due by 5:00 p.m., but also realized that my job is more important than a site I run. I get back in front of my computer around 12:30, and go to check my mail, hoping to have a response from an email I wrote my boss earlier. Before I could ever get to my inbox, I read the Yahoo! caption:

“32 People Killed in Virginia Tech Tragedy”

I freeze. I think to myself: “No way. I saw this thing a couple of hours ago; it’s a typo. A couple of kids were killed. This can’t be right.”

I click on the headline, and read to my amazement. Horrified by what I’m reading, I call my dad.

Me: Pops, you seeing this?
Dad: What?
Me: This Virginia Tech thing.
Dad: I heard there were a couple of kids who had died, but have been busy with conference calls today. Why?
Me: Thirty-two kids, dad.
Dad: Thirty-two?
Me: Thirty-two.

The both of us were shocked. My dad was shocked because he had just heard the news from me; I was shocked because I still hadn’t completely digested what I’d read moments before.

I remember exactly where I was when the Columbine shooting took place. I was in ninth grade, English class, when my teacher told us the news. My next class was with a teacher that was very slack: There was no such thing as homework, or any type of work, really. She always had a TV in her class room, one that broadcasted the news throughout the year, unless it was March, where she’d play the NCAA Tournament. I walked into that class and saw Patrick Ireland climbing out of the window, using every bit of effort his body could muster. I remember hearing that there were bombs, automatics, semi-automatics; I remember hearing a handful of things, some true, others false.

I can’t say this day will stick in my mind like Columbine did. Maybe that’s because the news couldn’t provide us with visual evidence, or maybe it’s because I’m more grown up and a little less affected (when you’re 14 years old, a Columbine story can be kind of scary) by these events.

One thing I know: The victims’ families should be in everyone’s prayers. What happened yesterday was terrible; if there’s any good that comes from these events, it’s that the killer is now dead. Though I’d rather see this person — whose name is still unknown — in prison, being some guy named LeRon’s personal plaything, I’ll settle for death.

What happened yesterday was truly terrible. My best wishes go out to the families of the victims.

If you haven’t read this story, you can read it here. There’s detailed accounts of what happened. It’s worth reading.

God bless.