Some did fight back
Posted by Ron Coleman on April 17, 2007
We can talk about the guns, but also there are hearts. Mrs. Likelihood sends along the following:
Fatally shot as he protects students – NY Daily News:
Virginia Tech University Prof. Liviu Librescu, described as a family man who once did research for NASA, sacrificed his life to save his students in the shooting rampage yesterday.”When he heard the gunfire, he blocked the entrance and got shot through the door,” his daughter-in-law Ayala Schmulevich said.
“He realized he had to save the students,” she said. “That was the kind of man he was.” …
Alec Calhoun, 20, said the last thing he saw before he jumped from the window was Librescu, blocking the door against the madman in the hallway.
He died trying to protect the students.
Librescu taught aerospace and ocean engineering but focused much of his time on research.
He leaves a wife and two sons. His family is planning to bury him in Israel.
He was, in fact, Israeli. And:
Ryan Clark was shot as he went to investigate a disturbance in the dorm where he was the resident student adviser, witnesses said.
Who knows what other shining moments will yet emerge from this horror.
UPDATE: Instapundit collects more. And here is a unique link (fedora tip to Jeff Ballabon) that is heavy on the Yiddish-English jargon but worth looking at even if you don’t understand every word.
HokiePundit said
I only knew Ryan “Stack” Clark in passing, but he was a leader in the marching band and I’ve never heard anyone say anything but good things about him.
Masked Menace said
I’m very glad to hear there are those that had the heart. The should be memorialized as heroes. Every one.
Exit Zero said
Virginia Tech
Early reports of this tragedy reminded me of the Bronx Happyland’ social club fire, an arson attack that killed 87 people. The arsonist was angry at his girlfriend, who was inside…
soccer dad said
Ironic, I also first heard about Prof. Librescu from my wife!
A commenter pointed to Prof Librescu’s resume which he says is quite impressive. It’s not loading right now so I don’t know if the school took it down or if too many people right now are trying to access it.
The Ratnest » Blog Archive » The Gun Debate said
[…] Prof. Liviu Librescu knew that, and he died for it. We’re all taught at an early age that the cavalry is coming, and the part of the lesson that’s hardest to learn is that you have to hold on until they arrive. […]