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President: Learn Lessons From Shootings Gun Dealer Feels 'Absolutely Terrible' New Developments In Investigation

State leaders across the country asked residents to remember the victims of Monday's shootings on the campus of Virginia Tech by taking part in a day of mourning Friday.

A student, Cho Seung-Hui, went on a violent shooting rampage, killing 32 students and faculty members on campus before turning the gun on himself.

A day after a package of photographs, videos and writings from the gunman was received by NBC News, Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine wanted to refocus the nation's attention on the victims and their grieving families.

"As our Commonwealth begins the long and difficult healing process, I am filled with images of a Virginia Tech community that is resilient and unified," Kaine said. "I ask that everyone in Virginia pause at noon on Friday to offer prayers of support for the victims, their families, and for all those affected by this tragedy."

The governor will attend a service in the state capital of Richmond. But he has encouraged other communities in Virginia and across the country to hold their own simultaneous ceremonies.

Kaine sent a letter to other state governors. In it, he wrote, "I thank you for your thoughts and prayers and ask that you keep Virginia Tech in your hearts and minds as we all work together to overcome this horrific tragedy."

The service in Virginia's state capital will begin with a ringing of the bells. Many other states will join in ringing of bells or a moment of silence.

Iowa's governor asked his residents to take part. Gov. Chet Culver is a 1988 graduated of Virginia Tech.

New Jersey's acting Gov. Richard Codey said, "Tragedies such as these cross state lines, and it's important to take every opportunity to demonstrate our support."

Leaders in these states have announced plans to join the day of mourning Friday: Connecticut, Delaware, Iowa, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Washington and Wyoming.

President: Learn Lessons From Shootings

In a speech in Ohio on Thursday, President George W. Bush said that mass shootings are a reminder that people must be willing to raise a red flag about others' disturbing behavior.

"One of the lessons of these tragedies is to make sure that when people see somebody or know somebody who is exhibiting abnormal behavior, you do something about it, to suggest that somebody take a look," the president said during an appearance at a high school.

His comment came after a moment of silence for the victims of the shootings. Watch video of his speech.

While the president would not speak about what can be done to improve safety on school campuses, he did suggest that concerns about privacy violations may be preventing people from taking needed action.

"If you are a parent and your child is, you know, doing strange things on the Internet, pay attention to it and not be afraid to ask for help and not be afraid to say, 'I am concerned about what I am seeing,'" Bush said. "I think it's very important for us not to comment until it's all said and done, but that other cases there have been warning signals -- that if an adult, for example, had taken the signals seriously, perhaps tragedy could have been avoided."

Bush said the people of Blacksburg, Va., should take heart from its support in the rest of the country.

"It really speaks to the strength of this country, doesn't it, that total strangers here in Ohio are willing to hold up people in Virginia in prayer?" he said.

Gun Dealer Feels 'Absolutely Terrible'

A Wisconsin-based Internet gun seller said he feels "absolutely terrible" that his company sold one of two weapons owned by the gunman in the Virginia Tech shooting.

Eric Thompson, owner of the Green Bay-based Web site gun-source.com, said Cho Seung-Hui bought a .22-caliber handgun for about $267 in early February.

Thompson said he was contacted by ATF agents on Tuesday. He added that knowing that he sold the pistol is "quite possibly the worst nightmare."

Cho had the gun mailed to a Blacksburg, Va., pawn broker, where he picked it up on Feb. 9.

New Developments Emerge In Investigation

Virginia State Police said they have closed their investigation scene on the campus of Virginia Tech. Now their effort will move toward trying to learn more about what happened and why the gunman went on a shooting rampage.

New information has also surfaced about the FBI investigation into the package sent to NBC News by the shooter. According to a statement posted on the Virginia Tech Web site, "The vast majority of evidence collected from the mailing already existed in the FBI investigation."

It "simply confirmed much of what law enforcement already knew," according to the statement.

Meanwhile, investigators have also identified, located and processed a vehicle associated with the shooter. It's not clear how the car was used during the crime spree.

Also, 911 calls from Monday are not yet available. Investigators said they will not release those calls to the media because they are part of an ongoing investigation.

Injured Students 'Progressing Well'

Nine people hurt in Monday's shooting at Virginia Tech remain hospitalized, and at least one is in serious condition.

Scott Hill, the CEO of Montgomery Regional Hospital in Blacksburg, said at a Thursday news conference that the shooting victims at his facility are "progressing well."

"Things appear to be headed in the right direction," said a surgeon at Montgomery Regional Hospital.

Another student injured in the shootings was released Thursday from Lewis-Gale Medical Center in Salem, Va.

Hill said he can't say enough about the strength of the students and their families. He said they're "really working hard to recover. They don't want to be beaten in this."

Panel To Investigate Shootings

Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine on Thursday appointed a state panel that will investigate the shootings at Virginia Tech.

The panel will submit a report in two to three months on shooter Cho Seung-Hui's mental health history and how police responded to the tragedy.

Retired Virginia State Police Superintendent W. Gerald Massengill is heading the panel. The other members that were named include former U.S. Homeland Security Director Tom Ridge; Gordon K. Davies, former director of the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia; Roger L. Depue, retired chief of the FBI behavioral science unit; Aradhana Sood, a psychologist; and Dr. Marcus L. Martin, assistant dean of the University of Virginia School of Medicine.

At a news conference, Kaine said he would name two more members to the panel later -- an expert on crime victims and a retired judge.

Kaine said the panel will meet next week at the earliest and submit a report in 60 to 90 days. He said eight people will serve on the panel, which will review the events and offer recommendations -- hopefully, he said, before fall, "before the school season starts again."

"I would think the report would be two things: description about what we know, and recommendations," Kaine said.

Speaking with Kaine, Massengill emphasized that "we're not trying to second-guess anyone with any decision or any action that was taken."

Instead, Massengill said the panel's purpose is to address possible "strategies, policies, processes" that might be changed to prevent these types of events in the future.

Massengill said Wednesday that it's premature to judge school officials' decision not to order a campus-wide lockdown after the first shootings.

He said the group will look into that along with other issues -- including campus police tactics, academic free speech, the privacy of medical records, the rights of people with behavioral disabilities and how free college campuses can be.

And although he said we'd to see the answers come promptly, it's more important that they come through a "deliberate process" to "make sure we know what the facts are."

"We are going out there to try to find some lessons to learn," Massengill said.

Cho Endured Bullying, Ex-Classmates Say

Long before he boiled over, Virginia Tech gunman Cho Seung-Hui was picked on, pushed around and laughed at over his shyness and the strange way he talked when he was a schoolboy in the Washington suburbs, former classmates said.

They said Cho had endured years of bullying at school as a teenager and that Cho had a difficult time in school.

One fellow high school graduate said Cho almost never opened his mouth and would ignore attempts to strike up a conversation. He said once in English class, students laughed at Cho as he read, telling him to "Go back to China."

Another graduate said friends of hers who went to middle school with Cho recalled he was picked on. She said the friends told her that people were really mean to Cho, pushing him down and laughing at him.

Among the victims of the massacre were two graduates of his high school who were a few years behind him. Police said it is not clear whether Cho singled them out.

Professors and college suitemates of Cho painted a dark portrait.

Cho's dormitory suitemates said he rarely spoke to them or made eye contact. They and his professors describe him as a troubled, very quiet young man.

One of the suitemates, Karan Grewal, said no one told him that his teachers were concerned about Cho's being dangerous or suicidal.

Grewal said Cho was always alone -- in the dining hall, watching TV or working out in the gym.

Grewal said he pulled an all-nighter to do homework the night before the shootings and saw Cho up around 5 a.m., a few hours earlier than normal. He said that Cho was his usually silent self.

Still, Grewal said he had no idea Cho was capable of killing 32 people plus himself.

Police said Wednesday that Cho was accused of stalking two female students in the fall of 2005. Virginia Tech Police Chief Wendell Flinchum said that Cho had been taken to a mental health facility that year.

Student Victims To Get Degrees

University officials said at a Thursday morning news conference that the students who died in the shooting rampage will be awarded posthumous degrees during commencement. Ceremonies are set for May 11.

Officials said other students might have the option of ending their semester immediately.

Classes are scheduled to resume Monday, April 23.

News Coverage Scrutinized

NBC is defending its decision to use the video it received from the gunman at Virginia Tech. But amid a growing backlash, it promised to limit how much it shows in the future.

A statement from the network said it covered the shooting deaths of 32 people and its "unique role" in the story with "extreme sensitivity." It said the network "took careful consideration in determining how the information should be distributed."

"We did not rush the material onto air, but instead consulted with local authorities, who have since publicly acknowledged our appropriate handling of the matter. Beginning this morning, we have limited our usage of the video across NBC News, including MSNBC, to no more than 10 percent of our airtime," the statement said.

But after the footage was shown, some upset family members of victims canceled interview appearances on the "Today" show. Host Meredith Vieira said the family members were "very upset" with NBC.

"Today" host Matt Lauer said Thursday morning that NBC and its MSNBC cable outlet will "severely limit" the use of the pictures. He said there were "big differences of opinion" within NBC about whether any of the material should be aired. But he said the network decided to show some of the material in hopes it will help people understand why the shootings happened.

Other networks -- including ABC, CBS, CNN -- have also pledged to limit how much the footage is shown, and Fox News said it will no longer air the material because "sometimes you change your mind."

Police in Virginia also criticized NBC for what it showed, saying they are disappointed that NBC decided to air the video and other material it received from the Virginia Tech gunman.

Col. Steve Flaherty, the police superintendent, said the material contained little they did not already know. He said he hates that "a lot of people not used to seeing that type of image had to see it."

NBC said the package contained a rambling and often-incoherent, 1,800-word video manifesto on CD, plus 43 photos, 11 showing him aiming handguns at the camera.

NBC said the package was received in Wednesday morning's mail. It was apparently sent between the first and second shootings Monday that left 32 people dead.

Cho said in one excerpt aired on NBC Nightly News Wednesday, "You had a hundred billion chances and ways to have avoided today. But you decided to spill my blood. You forced me into a corner and gave me only one option. The decision was yours. Now you have blood on your hands that will never wash off."

He also said, "Your Mercedes wasn't enough, you brats. Your golden necklaces weren't enough, you snobs. Your trust funds wasn't enough. Your vodka and cognac wasn't enough. All your debaucheries weren't enough. Those weren't enough to fulfill your hedonistic needs. You had everything."

"When the time came, I had to do it," Cho is seen saying.

Link To S. Korean Movie?

A photograph in Cho's manifesto suggest ties to a bloody South Korean movie, "Oldboy," from respected director Chan-Woo Park.

The film and its sequel center on a man seeking revenge for being unjustly imprisoned. In one scene, he gets rid of more than a dozen henchmen with the aid of a hammer. Read more about the possible link.