BLACKSBURG, Va. — All 10 of the employees who work at Freedom First Federal Credit Union's branch on Virginia Polytechnic Institute's campus are fine and accounted for, according to Paul Phillips, president/CEO.
The $200 million CU has a branch in the Squires Student Center, which is roughly 500 yards from West Ambler Johnston Hall, a freshman dormitory and a little further than that from Norris Hall, an engineering studies building, Phillips said. Thirty-three people, including the alleged gunman, were killed at both locations yesterday.
At the time of the dorm shootings, which police said occurred at 7:15 a.m. yesterday morning, a manager and one employee were at the campus branch, Phillips said. As with the rest of students, staff and faculty on campus throughout the morning, the employees were instructed to get in lockdown status, remaining inside and staying away from windows. The CU employees were allowed to leave the branch at 1:00 p.m. Phillips said he has not heard from any of the 10 CU employees on whether they knew or were related to any of the persons killed yesterday.
VA Tech President Charles Steger said this morning classes have been canceled for the rest of the week and Norris Hall will be closed for the rest of the semester. Phillips said the campus CU branch, along with other retail shops at the school, will remain open this week. The branch is open today.
"The mood is shock, disbelief and anger and it will probably be that way for some time," Phillips said. "We're trying to figure out how we can best support the university and help during this renewal process."
Phillips said he "commends the university and the way it handled the situation."
"It's not something one could ever imagine. I think they have taken the appropriate steps to provide security and safety for people on campus."
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