'Everyone Started Panicking and Jumping Out the Window'
April 16, 2007 -- Students called into ABC News Now and gave eyewitness accounts of the campus shootings at Virginia Tech. Below are transcripts of their calls.
Josh Wargo, Engineering Student
We were sitting in class and all of a sudden heard loud banging noises -- thought it could be construction. Heard screaming through the walls and everyone started to panic. Heard shots down the hallways, everyone started to panic and jumping out of the window.
We heard almost 40 or 50 shots. They were going on from the time we heard them and jumped out the window to almost two minutes later. Window was two or three stories. When I landed I was in a daze, standing outside of the building. Then I heard shots going through glass, that's when it hit me that I had to get out of there.
As soon as we heard the shots, people in class started calling 911, they were on the scene two minutes later.
I jumped out of the window and ran into Patten Hall, the neighboring building right across from it.
I was in a mechanics class, engineering class. They sounded like they were coming from the classroom next door. We could hear people screaming "Oh my god" from next door.
One of my friends called me to make sure that everyone is OK. I'm told that they're in stable condition, but some of them got shot. They told me my prof was shot in the face and didn't make it but we're not sure.
I got the e-mails, but my impression was it was prank or nothing serious -- hadn't heard anyone was apprehended or actual bombs were found.
We live in a pretty peaceful community, this is a total shock.
I feel a little bit numb, I've never been in a situation like this before.
Classmate broke his leg jumping out of window, he was able to crawl away from the building, I'm pretty sure he made it to the hospital.
No, I had no idea another shooting had taken place.
Gina Om, Engineering Student
She spoke to ABC News Now from a local hospital where she'd gone to check on an injured friend.
I was just really scared because Norris Hall is the building where I have all my classes, my department. It's kinda surreal because I've always thought Virginia Tech was extremely safe, one of the reasons that I considered to come to the school. It's hard to believe and sad that it happened at this school because it's a nice town.
I found out before some of my friends because I was in an engineering class so I was able to contact my mom but I'm getting calls and texts from people to see if I'm OK.
It's hard to believe that it was so close to my daily scheduled place I go every day.
I was on campus for the August 2006 incident, I was in my next class that day, we were told halfway through and told to go home. This one is a little more scary because it's so many kids that I know and are close to you.
What brought you to hospital?One of my friends had been shot three times who had been in the classroom.
He's stable, fine, talking, but there was another kid in the emergency room who had to jump out of window. He broke his leg.
I was in a classroom which was closer to west AJ Hall, so we heard ambulances. They said OK everyone go home. When I got home I started calling people, checking to see if everyone was OK. That's when I found out that one of my friends was shot.
I haven't seen any other victims, there's a lot of friends and family here. They won't let anyone into the emergency room, they have the waiting area, they're only letting one person in and out to see friends.
Michelle Billman, WUVT Campus Radio Station Student Radio General Manager
I was in class…two buildings over. Someone got a text message saying something was going on. After that we were told to stay in the building, away from the windows.
Right at the end of class, 9:50 or 9:55.
It really wasn't organized. Almost everyone else just left, and while the kids were running out, people said, "Come back, come back."
"The only reason we knew was because someone got a text message…No one was there saying, "This is what's going on."
Communication from college?I checked my e-mail about 8:30…I went to my class as I usually would. By 8:30 no one was notified that something had happened at 7. We went onto a dangerous campus not knowing…
It's so hard because I know that those police officers are putting their lives on the line and it's so chaotic…There needs to be a better system…
Anna Woodford, Sophomore
I was thankfully still in my room. We got all the e-mails before I had to go to class, and most of my classmates were able to get back before the lockdown happened.
Our Internet, everything is obviously very clogged, Web mail is down, phone lines are mostly down, everybody is waiting.
Are you looking for friends?I've heard back from most of them, but I still have one or two who are missing.
It's an unbelievable situation. Everybody is shaken up. I don't think anyone's going to want to talk about it for a long time. I have gotten in touch with my family but getting in touch with my friends has been a lot more difficult.
Following the media as much as I can, like I said Internet is down, we can't log in.
Its impossible to describe. You hope and pray for the best. That's all we can do. My friends and I are praying that the people we haven't gotten in touch with are safe.