Tech police chief: ‘Horrific crime scene’

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BLACKSBURG—Virginia Tech officials said today that a 22-year-old Chinese graduate student who was just starting her studies here was decapitated last night in an attack at a campus restaurant.

The victim was identified as Xin Yang of Beijing. who arrived Jan. 8 at Tech as a graduate accounting student.

Haiyang Zhu, 25, of Ningbo, China, was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a charge of first-degree murder. He is a doctoral candidate in agricultural economics who had started studies in the fall, Tech officials said.

Police Chief Wendell Flinchum told reporters at a news conference this morning that police arrived within about minute of the 7:06 p.m. 911 call.

“It was a horrific crime scene and the victim had been decapitated,“ Flinchum said.

The suspect was still at the scene and police found the murder weapon, Flinchum said, describing it as a kitchen knife.

There were seven witnesses to the attack at the Au Bon Pain cafe at Tech’s Graduate Life Center, where Yang resided, Flinchum said.

Tech spokesman Larry Hincker said emergency contact records maintained by the university confirmed that Zhu and Yang knew each other. But they did not immediately know how long the two had been acquainted.

Yang’s mother, who lives in China, was notified last night by telephone, Hincker said.

Tech officials said that Zhu did not have any previous contact with university or Blacksburg police, or the university’s Threat Assessment Team or CARE Team.

Tech President Charles W. Steger acknowledged the concern over the slaying on the campus that endured the April 16, 2007, mass shootings.

“It brings back back memories of April 16 and I have no doubt that many of us feel especially distraught,“ Steger said.

Hincker said the university remains concerned about the welfare of the university student community, particularly the Chinese scholars there, and added there are counselors on duty to help.

In Richmond, Gov. Timothy M. Kaine issued this statement:

“My thoughts and prayers are with the friends and family of Xin Yang today — and with the broader Virginia Tech community. The tragic attack on campus this week has no doubt revived terrible memories for countless members of the Hokie family.

“I urge the citizens of the commonwealth to join me in sending sympathies and support to Virginia Tech in the days and weeks to come.”

—Rex Bowman

Earlier today

BLACKSBURG—The day after a graduate student allegedly stabbed another graduate student to death, Virginia Tech resumed classes this morning, with school President Charles W. Steger posting a letter online informing students that the killing appears to be “an isolated, very personal tragedy.“

“Our university community was shocked by a brutal murder Wednesday night at the Graduate Life Center,“ Steger wrote in the letter posted at http://www.vt.edu. “The suspect is in custody and the nature of the incident points to an isolated, very personal tragedy. Our hearts go out to the victim and her family. An act of violence like this one brings back memories of the April 16 tragedy and I have no doubt that many of us feel especially distraught.

“Once again we are challenged as a community to offer support to one another as we process this recent event. Once again we will rise to the occasion.“

Steger was referring to the April 16, 2007 massacre of 32 teachers and students by senior Seung-Hui Cho.

Regarding last night’s killing, campus Police Chief Wendell Flinchum said both the suspect and the victim were international students from Asia who apparently knew each other. The identity of the victim has not been released yet as officials try to reach her family. The suspect was identified late last night as Haiyang Zhu, 25, from China.

He is being held in the Montgomery County Jail without bond.

Flinchum said campus police received a 911 call at 7:06 p.m. Wednesday about a woman being assaulted in the Au Bon Pain cafe on the first floor of the Graduate Life Center. When an officer arrived he found Zhu and arrested him and retrieved the knife believed to be the murder weapon. The victim was already dead.

Tech is encouraging students to use the counseling services at the Cook Counseling Center on campus.

The Graduate Life Center at Donaldson Brown houses 115 graduate or professional students. The center was converted from a hotel and conference center. It is next to the university book store and is about a quarter-mile from Norris Hall, the primary site of the massacre nearly two years ago.

“I was here for the April 16 shootings and I think this has affected me more because of that - just like, not again. This already happened here,“ Jessica St. Clair, a graduate student at Virginia Tech, told WSLS in Roanoke.

“I just can’t really believe this happened again.“

—Rex Bowman