Virginia Tech Shooting Coincided With Deadly Anniversary Week

Cho Seung-Hui could not have picked a more poignant week in the nation's history to embark on his murderous shooting spree that left 33 people. This Thursday is the 14th anniversary of the FBI raid on the Branch Davidian complex in Waco, Texas, which resulted in the death of cult leader David Koresh and eight of his followers.

It also is the 12th anniversary of the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah federal building in Oklahoma City, OK, by Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols, who chose that date to avenge the Waco tragedy, for which some U.S. militia groups have blamed the U.S. government. Cho's shooting spree also occurred on the eve of the National Crime Victims' Right Week, which is next week.

The Justice Department will hold its traditional national observance and candlelight ceremony on Thursday, at which Cho's victims will very much be on the minds of those in attendance, including Attorney General Alberto Gonzales.

The department also will hand out National Crime Victims' Rights week awards on Friday, the eighth anniversary of the Columbine high school massacre in which two teenagers, Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold went on a shooting spree. The victims included twelve students and a teacher. The teens wounded 24 others before killing themselves.

By Chitra Ragavan