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Emily Hilscher, Rappahannock County freshman at Virginia Tech, confirmed killed in rampage; she may have been first shot
By James P. Gannon
The tragic killing rampage that struck the campus of Virginia Tech University Monday reached deep into the heart of this community with the confirmation that 19-year-old Emily Jane Hilscher of Rappahannock County was among the 33 killed in the nation’s worst-ever shooting spree.
It appears that the young Rappahannock woman was one of the first two persons shot early Monday morning. Student sources said she was a resident of West Ambler Johnston Hall, the dormitory where the first two victims were shot shortly after 7 a.m.
Emily Hilscher, a 2006 graduate of Rappahannock County High School and a freshman at the Blacksburg, VA college, was confimed dead by county authorities. She is the daughter of Elizabeth and Eric Hilscher who live on Rock Mills Road. Her parents were driven to Blacksburg Monday afternoon by a friend, after information began filtering up from the college community that Emily may have been a casualty.
Major Chris Williams of the Rappahannock County Sheriff’s Office was the person with the sad duty of informing the parents that their daughter had died.
After he heard reports that Emily may have been a victim, “I went down to their house about 1:30 p.m. to see if they were doing OK,” he said. The Hilschers were preparing to leave for Blacksburg. The parents reportedly were too distraught to drive themselves, but a typical small-town-America gesture had provided them a ride: a friendly Fed-Ex delivery driver, Gary Ford, had learned of the Hilscher’s plight as he made his rounds and offered to drop everything and drive the couple to Blacksburg himself. According to Williams, Ford called his boss, explained the situation, and another van driver was dispatched to complete the deliveries while Ford drove the parents to the site of the crime.
It was on the ride down that the Hilschers received the news they dreaded. Major Williams, who had been given their cell phone number earlier, said he called the couple about 3:30 p.m. after he received a police teletype message confirming that Emily Hilscher was among the dead. It was a very sad call, he said, but “I think they pretty much knew by that time,” from informal reports coming to them from the campus, including students who knew Emily.
At mid-afternoon Tuesday, county officials were taking steps to deal with a media onslaught that was descending here. “We’ve had a media deluge from everywhere,” said County Administrator John McCarthy, who was the first official to release news of Emily Hilscher’s death on Monday. McCarthy and County Sheriff Larry Sherertz both have been fielding calls from national television networks and other media people, seeking information and interviews, including interviews with the grieving parents.
Sheriff Sherertz said his office would protect the privacy of the family. “We are going to provide 24-hour, around-the-clock coverage at the driveway of their home,” to deflect the media or the curious from seeking entry without the Hilscher’s permision. “We want to protect the privacy of the home in the aftermath of this terrible tragedy,” he said, adding that “I am inundated with press calls.”
Three satellite TV trucks showed up on the grounds of the Rappahannock County High School today but “they have been run out of there,” and will not be permitted to return when school resumes tomorrow, the sheriff said.
Late Tuesday, County Administrator John McCarthy said he had talked to the Hilschers, who have decided they did not want to have any contact with the media at this time. He said the family, including Emily’s one older sister, Erica, is at home now and wishes to maintain its privacy. The family is discussing arrangements for a memorial but nothing has been scheduled yet.
The victim, who had a love of horses and was an accomplished rider, was a freshman majoring in animal science. She had worked at Rose Hill Veterinary Clinic near Washington, VA., and was hoping to become a veterinarian.
The Richmond Times Dispatch reported Tuesday that Emily was one of the two fatal victims shot in West Ambler Johnston Hall, a student dormitory, which is where the gunman first struck shortly after 7 a.m. on Monday. Later Tuesday afternoon, in an interview with CNN, Mark Demetriou, a student from New Jersey, said Emily was a resident of the dorm. When he heard of shootings in that building, he called a friend living there who confirmed Emily Hilscher had been shot. (Local county officials and the sheriff’s office was unable to confirm that Emily was shot in that dormitory.)
Rappahannock County Schools Superintendent Robert Chappell released the following statement Tuesday: “We extend our thoughts, prayers, and sincere condolences to the family of 2006 RCHS graduate Emily Hilscher, her many friends, and her teachers as we all mourn the loss of this bright, talented young lady. No words can completely express our collective community sorrow upon the untimely, tragic passing of this child.”
Chappell said the county schools had planned for grief counselors to assist students and staff today, but because of the unexpected closure of the schools due to loss of electrical power, grief counseling will be available Wednesday when classes resume.
McCarthy said he knows of no other person with county connections that was a victim, at this point. He said he had heard from five other families that their loved ones at the university were safe and unharmed.
According to latest police information, 33 persons are dead in the shooting rampage on the campus–2 persons, one male and one female, killed in a residence hall shortly after 7 a.m., and 31 persons, including the apparent gunman, in Norris Hall, a classroom building, where the shootings apparently occurred after 9 a.m. The tragedy is the largest mass shooting on record in the history of the United States.
The gunman has been identified as Cho Seung-Hui, a 23-year-old senior student at Virginia Tech, who turned his gun on himself after the killings. A resident alien born in South Korea, he is from Centreville, VA.
-- James P. GannonComments
Comment from mporo
Time: April 20, 2007, 12:48 am
I have read and seen the storys reporting on the life and senseless death of Miss Emily Hilscher. I simply found her to be an amazing young woman, reminding me so much of my wonderful 16 year old daughter…Could you please forward this to her family and ask them to forward any information to me that they may have in the event that they are planning on setting up any type of scholorship in her honor.
I admire all that I have read about her and I can only pray that my 2 high school age children have the strength and character that Emily seemed to have. I would like to help her family in any way possible to never let anyone forget the kind of young woman she seemed to be. Emily’s parent’s should be so proud to have had what appears to such a wonderful child. My heart goes out to them.
Thank You,
Michael
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