Virginia Tech President Defends Police Response

The president of Virginia Tech on Tuesday defended authorities' initial response to shootings at two university buildings that left 33 people dead, including the gunman.

A day after the killings, Virginia Tech police and university officials were answering questions about why no campuswide warning was issued until about two hours after the first attack.

The attacks came as the university was evaluating its campus warning system in response to deadly shootings near the school in August.

"We thought we had it under control, and I don't think anyone could have predicted that another event was going to take place two hours later," school President Charles Steger said Tuesday.

Authorities handled the crisis "professionally and skillfully," he said, responding to a reporter's question about whether campus police "blew it."

The first round of shootings occurred before 7:15 a.m. Monday, when police received a 911 call about an attack at a dormitory. Steger said police thought the gunman had left campus after the attack at West Ambler Johnston Hall that left a man and woman dead. (Interactive: A timeline of the tragic events)

"The dormitory was immediately closed down," Steger said. "It was surrounded by security guards, the streets were cordoned off and the students in the building were notified what was going on."

Students complained they received no campuswide alert until more than two hours later at 9:26, when an e-mail announced the initial shootings and warned the university community to be cautious. (Warning e-mails to students)

By that time, the second round of attacks had taken place at Norris Hall classroom building, killing 31 people, including the gunman. That man was identified by authorities as Cho Seung-hui, 23, an English major and South Korean native who lived on campus. (Watch how police tests link gun to both shootings Video)

At 9:50 a.m., a second e-mail was brief and to the point: "A gunman is loose on campus. Stay in buildings until further notice. Stay away from all windows."

Graduate student Andrew Capers Thompson, 22, told The Associated Press: "We were kept in the dark a lot about exactly what was going on." (Watch a survivor of the attacks describe his ordeal Video)

But one student, sophomore Mark Demetriou, said he was satisfied with the timing of the response by the school and police.

"I'm sure the university was as cautious as they could be, and if they thought that if there were any real threat, they would have canceled classes immediately and not let anybody on campus at all," Demetriou said.

Police said surveillance cameras were neither at the West Ambler Johnston dormitory nor at Norris Hall.