Washington National Cathedral Offers Prayer and Sympathy Following Virginia Tech Shooting

Virginia Tech Campus Police Officer Deriek Crouse was fatally shot on the Blacksburg, Va. campus Thursday. Police are still investigating the incident, which kept the campus in near lock-down for several hours. Tonight students are hosting a vigil for the victim.

The National Cathedral released the following press release in response to the incident:

The Rev. Canon Jan Naylor Cope, vicar of the Washington National Cathedral released the following statement today expressing her sympathy, on behalf of the Cathedral community, to those lost in today’s shooting at Virginia Tech.

“The National Cathedral holds Virginia Tech and all the people of Blacksburg in its prayers today,” said the Rev. Canon Jan Naylor Cope, vicar.  “This sad reminder of the campus shooting in 2007 could never come at a good time, but we know that the shock and disruption must be especially great in this busy and sacred season.  As students and teachers prepare for final exams across the country, and as we all prepare for the holidays, may we pause in prayer and sympathy for the victims and their families, in thanksgiving for law enforcement, and in our commitment to ending violence.”