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The student who shot dead at least 30 people at Virginia Tech University was admitted to a mental health unit in late 2005, police have revealed.
Cho Seung-hui was sent for evaluation after two female students made complaints against him, they said.

The complaints were made in November and December 2005, around the time Cho's English teachers raised concerns over his writing and general behaviour.

Authorities have not yet linked the 23-year old to any of those he killed.

The two women who complained about Cho's behaviour were not among the victims, officials said.

However, police told a news conference at the university that Cho was well known both to campus authorities and local law enforcement agencies.

In the aftermath of the shootings, teachers and fellow students have spoken of Cho's moods, violent writings and unpredictable behaviour.

Twin complaints

Two separate complaints about Cho's behaviour were lodged in late 2005, university police chief Wendell Flinchum said.

CHO SEUNG-HUI

Born in South Korea, moved to US aged 8
Final year student of English
Described as a loner
Writings disturbed other students


'Loner' behind massacre
Korea shocked and sad
Victims' profiles

"I'm not saying they were threats, I'm saying they were annoying. That's the way the victims characterised them, as annoying messages," he added.

In the first instance, Cho reportedly telephoned a female student and made direct contact with her.

Police spoke to Cho after she lodged a complaint, they said.

In a similar incident a month later, in December 2005, Cho reportedly made contact with another female student through instant messaging, leading to her complaint.

He was referred to a mental health unit outside the Virginia Tech campus on 13 December for evaluation amid concerns he was feeling suicidal, police said.

Private medical records from the mental health facility remain confidential, but Cho was referred back to university authorities for counselling after his assessment and had no further contact with campus police.

Timeline and key locations
Around the same time, at least two of Cho's English teachers voiced their concerns over his behaviour and the tone of his work.

Cho's writing was moody and often involved themes of violence and death that alarmed Lucinda Roy, who was at that time head of the English department at Virginia Tech.

She removed Cho from regular classes and tutored him one-on-one after a complaint from another teacher.

"He was quite a gifted student in some ways, but he seemed to be very lonely and depressed," she said.


From BBC News website