Police have now confirmed that the man responsible for yesterday’s horrific murder of 32 people at Virginia Tech is Cho Seung-Hui, 23, who grew up in Centreville, Va. Cho, a citizen of South Korea, graduated from Westfield High School in Fairfax County in 2003. As well, several of the students killed were from Northern Virginia suburbs, including Mary Read, 19, Reema Samaha, 18, Erin Peterson, 18, Leslie Sherman, 20, and Emily Hilscher,19. The Post has several excellent profiles of some of the confirmed victims.

More information is also becoming available about this man who killed dozens of people before turning a gun on himself. A neighbor in Centreville said Cho was “very quiet, always by himself.” Cho was an English major whose recent behavior drew attention from teachers. One professor said his creative writing assignments had taken a “troubling” turn over a year ago. Lucinda Roy, Former Chair of the English Dept. said she was so “deeply concerned” by Cho’s writing that she removed him from class and taught him one-on-one in the Fall of 2005. The department referred him to student counseling services, but it’s not clear whether he sought help. CNN reports that Cho had a history of mental illness.

When police searched Cho’s dorm in Harper Hall, they found many disturbing documents, including bomb threats against several engineering department buildings and an incoherent, rambling note detailing a long list of grievances. The Post reports Cho railed against “rich, spoiled students” as well as other people.

While everyone at Virginia Tech and throughout the country tries to cope with the enormity of Monday’s events, these details help paint a clearer picture of an incomprehensible crime.