By JOSH AULT
6 News Reporter
KNOXVILLE (WATE) - A police officer was shot and killed Thursday. The gunman was also found dead on campus.
Thursday's shooting brought back a lot of memories of the April 16, 2007, massacre when 33 people died. The 2007 shooting was the deadliest mass shooting in United States history.
"The first Virginia Tech alert I got this morning was gun shots reported coliseum parking lost, stay inside, secure doors, emergency personnel are responding, call 911 for help," said Katie Primm, a 2011 graduate of Virginia Tech, who lives in Knoxville.
Primm still receives text alerts from Virginia Tech.
"I looked at my mom and said oh no, something happened again and actually my first response to her was I'm really happy that they have secured the campus the way they have today," said Primm.
Primm started school at Virginia Tech a semester after the deadly shooting on April 16.
Mark Harrison, of Loudon County, graduated from Virginia Tech in 2010. He also received the text alerts from the university.
"My first thought was I hope my brother is OK," said Harrison. "He's up at school at Virginia Tech, so my mom got in contact with him and he was fine. That was my first reaction."
Harrison was a freshman when 32 of his classmates were killed.
Both graduates say they feel school officials are doing everything possible to protect the students there.
"I definitely still think it's a great place to go to school," said Primm. "Unfortunately, I feel Virginia Tech will forever be associated with these violent acts, but I hope people can see through that and see what an amazing school Virginia Tech is."
"After going there and seeing what happened after the shooting, I wouldn't change anything," said Harrison. "I would definitely go there and I would tell anybody to go there."
"The last (text alert) I received today said law enforcement agencies have determined there is no longer an active threat or need to secure in place, resume normal activities," said Primm.
Both graduates say along with these text alerts Virginia Tech officials have also installed alarms and digital screens in every classroom to let students know if there is a danger on campus.
