2007年VOA标准英语-US University Gunman Was South Korean Student,

By Peter Fedynsky
Washington
17 April 2007

The gunman involved in the largest mass shooting in U.S. history has been identified as a 23-year-old resident alien from South Korea. As VOA's Peter Fedynsky reports, the investigation¹ and mourning period are just getting under way.

 

Virginia Tech police chief Wendell Flinchum identified the gunman as Cho Seung-Hui, a 23-year-old South Korean who lived on campus and was an English major at the university. Flinchum says U.S. federal authorities have performed ballistics tests on weapons used in the massacre², which unfolded over two hours in two separate locations on campus.

"A nine millimeter handgun and a 22 caliber³ handgun were recovered from Norris Hall," he said. "Lab results confirm that one of the two weapons seized in Norris Hall was used in both shootings."

The Washington Post newspaper quotes a witness as saying Cho went about his deadly mission with a serious, but calm look on his face. Officials say it is reasonable to assume that he was the only gunman, but they are investigating whether he may have had assistance from an accomplice⁴. The local medical examiner says it will take several days to positively⁵ identify all of the victims.

"We will be working with the family assistance centers and with families to collect the information needed for identification as well as working with the police to recover those items that we can use for, say, finger print confirmation," the examiner said.

Makeshift memorial including candle and flowers in front of Norris Hall on campus of Virginia Tech University, 17 Apr 2007

Students at the campus have gathered around a makeshift memorial to grieve the tragedy. One student expressed his feelings this way.

"Really, I think we are still in shock. I don't know that the enormity of it has sunk in yet. Yesterday was a long day," he said.

Virginia governor Tim Kaine, who was in Japan at the start of a two-week Asian trade mission, immediately returned to the state after the shootings. President Bush will attend a memorial service at the university this afternoon. He said the nation is shocked and saddened by the rampage.

"Today, our nation grieves with those who lost loved ones at Virginia Tech," the president said. "We hold the victims in our hearts, we lift them up in our prayers, and we ask a loving God to comfort those who are suffering today."

On Capitol Hill, representatives and senators joined in a moment of silence in both houses of Congress. Senate majority leader Harry⁶ Reid, speaking about the senselessness of the crime, said, "for now, all we can do is offer our thoughts and our prayers in a very individual way."

1 investigation   

n.调查，调查研究

参考例句：

• In an investigation,a new fact became known, which told against him.在调查中新发现了一件对他不利的事实。
• He drew the conclusion by building on his own investigation.他根据自己的调查研究作出结论。

2 massacre   

n.残杀，大屠杀；v.残杀，集体屠杀

参考例句：

• There was a terrible massacre of villagers here during the war.在战争中，这里的村民惨遭屠杀。
• If we forget the massacre,the massacre will happen again!忘记了大屠杀，大屠杀就有可能再次发生！

3 caliber   

n.能力；水准

参考例句：

• They ought to win with players of such high caliber.他们选手的能力这样高,应该获胜。
• We are always trying to improve the caliber of our schools.我们一直在想方设法提高我们学校的水平。

4 accomplice   

n.从犯，帮凶，同谋

参考例句：

• She was her husband's accomplice in murdering a rich old man.她是她丈夫谋杀一个老富翁的帮凶。
• He is suspected as an accomplice of the murder.他涉嫌为这次凶杀案的同谋。

5 positively   

adv.明确地，断然，坚决地；实在，确实

参考例句：

• She was positively glowing with happiness.她满脸幸福。
• The weather was positively poisonous.这天气着实讨厌。

6 harry   

vt.掠夺，蹂躏，使苦恼

参考例句：

• Today,people feel more hurried and harried.今天，人们感到更加忙碌和苦恼。
• Obama harried business by Healthcare Reform plan.奥巴马用医改掠夺了商界。