South Korean Cho Seung-Hui, 23, had shown recent signs of violent, aberrant behaviour and may have been taking medication for depression.
THE man who shot 32 people and killed himself at Virginia Tech in the worst civilian shooting in US history was a disturbed loner who had broken up with his girlfriend.
South Korean Cho Seung-Hui, 23, had shown recent signs of violent, aberrant behaviour, including setting fire to a dorm room and allegedly stalking some women, and that he may have been taking medication for depression.
The fourth-year English student's creative writing was so disturbing he was referred to the university's counselling service.
The department's director of creative writing, who had Seung-Hui in one of her classes, described him as "troubled".
A note believed to have been written by Seung-Hui, found in his dormitory room, hit out against "rich kids", "debauchery" and "deceitful charlatans" at the university's campus.
Fingerprints belonging to the undergraduate were yesterday found on two handguns used to shoot 32 people at the university, in Blacksburg, in the state of Virginia, sources said.
Police said the undergraduate behind the deadly rampage on Monday had shot himself.
There was speculation last night that Seung-Hui began his shooting spree after a row with girlfriend Emily Hilscher, 18.
Ms Hilscher, an animal science student, is believed to have been the first to die at her dormitory in West Ambler Johnston Residence Hall.
Her dormitory neighbour, biology and English student Ryan Clark, 22, was the second person to be killed. Some reports suggested Seung-Hui suspected Ms Hilscher of cheating on him with Mr Clark.
Two hours later, Seung-Hui went on to attack staff and students at a separate university building, Norris Hall, half-a-mile away. The bodies of 30 victims were recovered from at least four classrooms and a stairwell. Seung-Hui's body was discovered among the victims.
One internet site posting by a friend on a page dedicated to Ms Hilscher said: "I'm sorry that she ever got involved with this guy (Seung-Hui)."
Seung-Hui, from Centreville, Virginia, a rapidly growing suburb of Washington DC, came to the US in 1992. He was a legal permanent resident. His family, who run a dry-cleaning business, were not available for comment yesterday.
Police said they recovered two handguns, a 9mm semi-automatic and a .22mm. Ballistics tests showed one of the guns was used in both shootings - at the dormitory and in the classroom building two hours later.
Colonel Steve Flaherty, a superintendent of Virginia State Police, said there was no evidence to support speculation that a second gunman was involved.
Describing the killer, Larry Hincker, the university spokesman, said: "He was a loner, and we're having difficulty finding information about him."
Last night, a few hours after ordering flags to be flown at half-mast across the US, President George W Bush addressed a special memorial assembly at the basketball arena within the university's campus.
"This is a day of mourning for the Virginia Tech community, and it is a day of sadness for our entire nation," he said. "In this time of anguish, I hope you know that people all over this country are thinking about you and asking God to provide comfort for all who have been affected."
Back in Virginia more details of the massacre emerged as the Blacksburg community faced up to the reality of what had happened.
Police sources said chains and padlocks were used to lock doors at Norris Hall from the inside before the slaughter began.
They said there had been bomb threats on the campus over the past two weeks but had not determined whether they were linked to the shootings.
Student Derek O'Dell, who was shot in the arm, said the gunman fired repeatedly in silence with "no specific target, just taking out anybody he could".
Mr O'Dell said Seung-Hui shot his lecturer before turning the gun on rows of seated students.
