Gunman

BLACKSBURG, Va.-- --Thirty-three people were killed and at least 15 injured at the Virginia Tech campus yesterday in the worst shooting rampage in modern U.S. history - a massacre that left the stricken campus in mourning and overwhelmed with questions about who the gunman was and how the shooting could have happened. Virginia Tech President Charles W. Steger described the scene as "carnage," and President Bush said the tragedy's impact would be "felt in every American classroom and every American community."

The self-portrait of Virginia Tech gunman Cho Seung-Hui wielding a hammer, contained in a multimedia package that he mailed to NBC, fueled Internet speculation yesterday that he was inspired by the 2003 South Korean revenge thriller Oldboy. This bloody Kafka-esque thriller about a Seoul businessman framed for murder won the Grand Prize at Cannes in 2004 and became a cult favorite for stylized violence, notably a scene of the hero using his hammer to fight off more than a dozen thugs. The movie ranks No. 116 on the Internet Movie Database's "Top 250" and is a perennial top rental at specialty stores.

Police Blotter is a sampling of crimes from police reports in Baltimore and Baltimore County. Baltimore Northwestern Shooting -- A 42-year-old man from Division Street in West Baltimore was standing outside a house in the 4400 block of Groveland Ave. with several other men about 4 a.m. yesterday when he became involved in an argument with one of the men and was shot. Police said the bullet grazed the man's head, and that he was taken by a city Fire Department ambulance to Sinai Hospital.

Obtaining exclusive material related to the nation's biggest news story is a network executive's dream. But when NBC received a package yesterday of video, photos and texts made by gunman Cho Seung-Hui, it also faced serious ethical concerns. The network, which received the delivery yesterday morning, reported that it had handed the material over to the authorities. But NBC also first copied the packet, which Cho had mailed between the time he killed two people in a dormitory and then gunned down 30 more in classrooms at Virginia Tech.

Police Blotter is a sampling of crimes in Baltimore City and Baltimore County.Baltimore CityNortheastern DistrictArrest: Acting on a tip, officers of the Neighborhood Services Unit arrested a male, 17, who was being sought in a shooting Wednesday in the 4400 block of Kavon Road. Baba Tunde Soremkum of no fixed address was charged as an adult with attempted murder in the shooting of a male about 1 a.m. Tuesday in the 4300 block of Belair Road. Sgt. Brian Matulonis said the victim was in serious condition yesterday at Maryland Shock Trauma Center.

Police Blotter is a sampling of crimes in Baltimore City and Baltimore County.Baltimore CitySoutheastern DistrictCutting/arrest: A man was arrested yesterday shortly after a woman, 35, was cut on the right wrist with a steak knife during an argument in the 3800 block of Mount Pleasant St. The man was charged with aggravated assault and the woman was treated at Johns Hopkins Hospital.Southern DistrictTheft from vehicle: A 260-watt amplifier and a 10-inch stereo speaker, all valued at more than $700, were stolen from a 1995 Chevrolet pickup truck parked Sunday in the 600 block of Washington Blvd.

Police Blotter is a sampling of crimes in Baltimore City and Baltimore County.Baltimore CityNortheastern DistrictDrug arrest: A woman, 36, was arrested yesterday at her home on charges that she sold cocaine, marijuana and amphetamines to children in the area and to patrons of bars along downtown North Charles Street for at least several months. Officers seized narcotics valued at $15,000; a scale; a $4,000 watch; the woman's 1988 Volvo, and $200. Lisa Anne Kountz, of the 3200 block of Overland Ave., was being held at Central Booking and Intake Center for a bail hearing.

Police Blotter is a sampling of crimes in Baltimore City and Baltimore County.Baltimore CityWestern DistrictShooting: A man, 26, was in the 700 block of Allegany Place near Cumberland Street about 1: 10 p.m. Monday when a gunman demanded his money. The victim turned to flee and the gunman shot him in the left hand and lower back. The victim was in critical condition yesterday at Maryland Shock Trauma Center.Northeastern DistrictShooting: A boy, 15, from the 1700 block of Carswell St. was in an alley in the 2800 block of Harford Road about 9: 30 p.m. Monday when a gunman fired several shots at him, wounding him in a shoulder.

A Colorado resident attending an aeronautical convention here was shot in the face last night during a robbery on a downtown street, police said.Detective Donny Bradshaw said Albert Nemes and Gary Geyer, residents of Littleton, Colo., were walking in the 100 block of N. Charles St. about 9: 45 p.m., when they were confronted by a gunman who demanded money.Bradshaw said Nemes gave his money to the gunman, who then shot him in the face. Bradshaw said Nemes was treated for a graze wound at the University of Maryland Medical Center.

Police Blotter is a sampling of crimes in Baltimore City and Baltimore County.Baltimore CityWestern DistrictShooting: Two police officers narrowly escaped injury yesterday when they drove into the middle of a shootout. Officers Irving Hinkson and Chris Malecki heard gunshots while patrolling by car near the 700 block of Kirby Lane shortly before 5 p.m. and went to investigate. They were caught in a cross fire between three occupants of a car and a man crouched behind a parked vehicle, said Sgt. Kenny Parks.

Police reports in Baltimore city and county: Southeastern Baltimore Assault: Police arrested a man about 7 p.m. Thursday moments after he was seen spraying the windows of moving vehicles with a chemical irritant on East Pratt Street near the Perkins Homes. One female motorist suffered a minor eye injury when sprayed. Ground units, aided by the crew of a police helicopter, captured the man on South Caroline Street near Gough Street. Assault charges were pending. Northeastern Baltimore Arrests: Two men were arrested shortly before 9 p.m. Wednesday, moments after a man was fatally shot in the 3400 block of Cliftmont Ave. The two have been charged with unlawful possession of a handgun.

A week after going on trial on charges that he killed a man in a botched holdup and tried to kill another, Juvon C. Harris was found guilty Monday by a Baltimore County Circuit Court jury of all eight counts against him, including first-degree murder and attempted first-degree murder. Harris, 28, faces a maximum sentence of life in prison without parole when he is sentenced July 30 by Judge John O. Hennegan, who presided over the trial. Prosecutors dropped their earlier intention to seek the death penalty for Harris, who was seen in a surveillance video fleeing the parking lot of Woodlawn's Windsor Inn early on July 1, 2007, immediately after two men had been shot there.

When a man he didn't know pointed a gun at him outside a club, Howie Hamlin said, he thought it was a joke. He and a friend, Taavon Chambers, had been talking in the parking lot of Woodlawn's Windsor Inn early on July 1, 2007, as the bar was closing for the night. Suddenly, a third man appeared and, brandishing a pistol, ordered them both to lie on the ground, Hamlin testified Tuesday in Baltimore County Circuit Court. They ignored him. The gunman reacted by shoving the muzzle of his weapon into Hamlin's face, under his left eye. "Then I knew he was serious, that he was trying to rob us," Hamlin said.

Police reports in Baltimore city and county: Northern Baltimore Robbery: Police were seeking a gunman who robbed the Papa John's Pizza in the 300 block of E. 33rd St. about 9:20 a.m. Saturday of an undisclosed sum of money from a safe. The gunman also robbed an employee of his money and property. While the 18-year-old employee was outside the store for a few minutes, he was approached by the gunman, who ordered him back inside. There, the gunman ordered the employee to give him money from a safe.

Police reports in Baltimore city and county Northern Baltimore Robbery/arrest A man was arrested Tuesday afternoon moments after he entered Rite Aid in the 3100 block of Greenmount Ave., the same store he robbed less than 24 hours earlier. Lt. Charles Guthrie, a district night commander, said the man, whose name was not available, entered the store and was immediately recognized by at least two employees as the man who robbed the store several hours earlier. Employees called police and the man was arrested without incident.

BINGHAMTON, N.Y. -For immigrants in this Rust Belt city, the doorway to America leads through the friendly building on Front Street. But on Friday, the American Civic Association - a place crowded with recent arrivals taking English classes and citizenship exams - became a killing zone. A gunman barricaded the back door of the immigration services center with a car, preventing escape, then entered through the front door. Opening fire, he killed 13 people and seriously wounded four others before apparently committing suicide.

Police reports in baltimore city and county: Northern Baltimore Robbery A man, 29, was driving on 28th Street about 12:40 p.m. Monday and was turning onto the 2800 block of Lovegrove St. when his car was struck in the rear by a Chevrolet Malibu. While the victim and the driver of the other car discussed the accident, a passenger in the Malibu exited the vehicle with what appeared to be a handgun in his waistband and demanded the victim's money. The man gave up $28 to the gunman who, along with the driver of the Malibu, sped off. The victim drove off and called police.

Adrian McFadden was pointing a black six-shot revolver at Avon Ball Jr.'s face and threatening to pull the trigger. Ball's foster brother, George T. Johnson, stared back at the gunman and pleaded, "Don't shoot him, shoot me." The gunman obliged, fatally hitting Johnson four times on a West Baltimore street on July 6 of last year. But the shooter didn't stop there. Prosecutors said McFadden opened fire on Ball, who by then was running away. Bullets struck him and a teenage girl who happened to be nearby.

POLICE BLOTTER Police reports in Baltimore city and county: Western Baltimore Shooting An unidentified man was shot in the head shortly after 5 p.m. yesterday in the 900 block of Bennett Place at Fremont Avenue and was taken to a hospital for treatment. His condition and details of the shooting were not available. Northern Baltimore Robbery A boy, 15, was walking in the 2800 block of Huntingdon Ave. about 8 p.m. Monday when he was assaulted by two older males, one armed with a handgun, who robbed him of $3 and his hooded jacket.

Police reports in Baltimore city and county: Eastern Baltimore Shooting Police said the shooting of a man, 39, in a house in the 900 block of N, Collington Ave. about 9 p.m. Tuesday appeared to be drug-related. The victim was watching TV when two men entered the house and demanded money before he was shot. The victim was treated at Johns Hopkins Hospital. Central Baltimore Theft/arrest A man, 53, from Northeast Baltimore was arrested Tuesday by security officers when he tried to leave Rite Aid in the 300 block of W. Lexington St. without paying for a digital camera valued at $40 that he hid in his coat.