From Blacksburg: The Path Of A Package

By: Greg Kandra
Topics: Hot Links

Over at our sibling blog, Primary Source, Laura Strickler has a fascinating nugget:

Cho Seung-Hui left his dormitory suite on Monday morning and headed to the Blacksburg Post Office on North Main Street armed with his package for NBC News.

It's a picturesque brick building built about 70 years ago with potted plants outside. Up the steps he walked in and rounded the corner to the counter. There, he found Susan Duarte, the only postal worker on duty.

She told CBS News it was busy and she did not remember him as much as she remembered his package, but not due to its contents, just the address. She had to look up the zip code for Rockefeller Plaza.

Read on for more about the path of the package. You may never view a trip to the post office the same way.

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by mitch0927 April 20, 2007 1:30 AM EDT: TULSA, Okla. -- Police arrested an eighth-grade student at Byrd Middle School on Thursday after he was caught with a .22-caliber pistol in his pocket, police said.

He was taken into custody around 10:30 a.m. after another student tipped off a teacher in an anonymous note, said Bob Currington with the Tulsa Public Schools Safe and Drug-Free Schools program.

The boy was taken to the Juvenile Detention Center on a complaint of possession of a firearm on school property and suspended for at least 365 days, authorities said; Reply to this comment


by jwak5 April 19, 2007 5:13 PM EDT: Hey great ad NBC did for Bullied Killers of America, now I see CBS in on the promo. I noticed those two Columbine idiots are also getting their share of airplay out of this. Dumb move for NBC; or was it genius? Who knows; maybe you're all just chumming the water for another big story in a few months.; Reply to this comment


by gracie7102 April 19, 2007 4:40 PM EDT: Let me start by saying you now have a new viewer and you may send your many THANKS to Matt Lauer and The Today Show. I thought my sadest day was when Katie left! However, my sadest day with The Today Show is today. Matt has been a jerk since she left and his head blew up and now he thinks he's to media God. I would love to be able to see Katie; however, I'm always driving home from work. You made a great choice with her and the only way I can support her move is to turn to your morning! From this point forward I turn my back on The Today Show the same way NBC, The Today Show and Matt Lauer turned their backs on the victims, families and friends!!! May the NBC ratings root in hell with murderer!!!! Please do not fall into their trap. Don't disappoint me and your new followers.; Reply to this comment


by rjames165 April 19, 2007 3:43 PM EDT: Many many of us here in the Blacksburg area are outraged, disappointed, and hurt that NBC released those videos and pictures last evening and that you and other networks saw fit to air them.

The unnecessary pain that they have afflicted on those already in agony is excruciating.

This is definitely one case where a picture is NOT worth a thousand words.; Reply to this comment


by mrsbigo April 19, 2007 2:43 PM EDT: This terrible event that was unwantedly forced on these admiral students and techers of VaTech is just too CRAZY to even consume in the our minds! I want to send my families prayers and thoughts to ALL of the victims and residents and their families! We need to watch whom our children are socilalizing with and living with or near and tell them that it is alright to speak out if you think one of those people are mentally or physically in trouble! We have to ask that whomever they go to to report this to can follow through with the information and hopefully protect the others around this person! Don't let our children or our fine teachers have to pay for some crack in the system that was not opened enough to take care of such an unstable person as this person seems to have been! Whether the school officals or the police departments think that an incident is merely a hoax, they should be wise enough to STILL follow through with a complete shutdown or lockdown of one or several buildings! The lives that are now lost can never be replaced but hopefully things will be changed to protect everyone there at VaTech and any other college or school or workplace against this happening again in our country! My heart breaks for every family involved and all the people, including the recurers, that have seen this terrible devistation! Gloria Broadwater; Reply to this comment


by ericmichael1 April 19, 2007 2:25 PM EDT: Katie & Co.:

CBS News (& NBC) made a BAD call last night.

Cho's video should not have been aired.

If bin Laden had just set off a bomb and killed 32 innocents, you would not have aired his video comments on TV. Why would you do it for another deranged murderer?

You may have just emboldened copy-cats to do much the same thing, thinking that their last statements will be aired on the national news.

I love you, Katie, and I have supported you and your staff on this blog, but as a law enforcement officer, I am VERY disappointed in both CBS and NBC. The VT students & families deserve a public apology.

Eric; Reply to this comment


by milwaukeemom April 19, 2007 1:40 PM EDT: Katie Couric is my favorite anchor and I TIVO her so I can watch when I get home from work. But, I have a bone to pick with Ms. Couric and the decision makers at CBS News.

I'm frightened that you aired the photos and video of Cho Seung-Hui that he sent you. It appears that he was seeking fame, and, by giving it to him, I'm afraid you may be encouraging copy cat killers who will also seek to be rewarded by you with fame.

In the future, please consider delivering a detailed written report on photos and videos you receive from murderers rather than airing the actual photos or videos themselves. I realize you have a duty to report the news, and that you are a visual medium; however, you also have a duty to provide responsible journalism.

It is possible to accomplish reporting without glorifying killers, giving them exactly what they want, and encouraging copy cat killers to seek the same reward.; Reply to this comment