Justin Hamilton

**imported_Sportsman** · April 17th, 2007, 08:40 PM

Posted on Tue, Apr. 17, 2007

Virginia Tech tragedy hits home for Browns safety

TOM WITHERS
Associated Press

BEREA, Ohio - As the video displayed the disturbing images of gun-toting police and gunfire erupting on Virginia Tech's campus, Browns safety Justin Hamilton was overwhelmed by one thought.

"I would have been in that building if I was still a student there," he said. "I really have been struggling with what I would have done or what it was that decided those people's fates.

"I've really struggled with that."

Like so many in the Virginia Tech family, Hamilton is grieving over the deaths of 33 people, including a lone gunman, who went on a rampage through a dormitory and classrooms on Virginia Tech's campus in Blacksburg, Va., on Monday.

Hamilton, drafted in the seventh round by Cleveland in 2006, spent five years at the school. In his final three years, he attended classes in Norris Hall, where most of the killings took place.

He was at the Browns' facility working out early Monday when he first learned of a problem at his alma mater. After showering, he was on his way to breakfast when he began getting more information on the unfolding tragedy.

"I started getting text messages and phone calls, and immediately I knew something was going on that was really bad," he said.

One message Hamilton received was from a close friend, a SWAT team member.

"He said he was dispatched to Virginia Tech, which is three hours away," Hamilton said. "When he sent me a message, I knew something was really bad. I went straight home, turned on the news and basically I have been watching for the last 24 hours."

Hamilton watched in disbelief as a video taken by a Virginia Tech student with a cell phone was shown numerous times. On it, police are seen working their way up to the doors of Norris Hall, which authorities said were apparently chained shut by the shooter.

The images deeply affected the 24-year-old, still wrestling with the horror that took place at his school.

"There were chills all over my body because I have seen through the eyes of that camera. Almost everyday of my career I was in that area," he said. "It was just like I was watching a normal day on campus except there were guns shots and SWAT teams and police everywhere.

"To think that we might be hearing the last moments of some people's lives. ... I could not get that out of my mind, how it could have been me. I don't understand why I was spared and those people weren't and that has really bothered me."

Hamilton spent Monday afternoon and evening phoning friends on campus, praying everyone he knew was OK. So far, none of the victims has been someone he knows personally.

However, Hamilton, born in Norfolk, Va., said the losses have rattled everyone with ties to the school and its surrounding, close-knit community. It's been impossible for him to grasp the horrors that took place at Virginia Tech.

"On a normal day, it's a beautiful campus," he said. "Campus life is just abundant. It just overflows with life. You see smiling faces. You see people who are just happy to be there. It's just a great place to go to school it's a great place to grow up. It really rocked me. It's inconceivable."

**imported_VHSLhelper** · April 17th, 2007, 09:14 PM

who is this Whithers guy? Thought J-Ham was born in NorTON

**imported_VHSLhelper** · April 17th, 2007, 09:16 PM

nevermind - Cleveland guy.

**UTVols2** · April 17th, 2007, 09:17 PM

He was as far as I know, but anytime you tell somebody out of the area that you are from Norton, Va. they say oh, Norfolk, Va. I know where that is at, it is near the beach isn't it. [img]/LDPforum/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wall.gif[/img]

**imported_VHSLhelper** · April 17th, 2007, 11:58 PM

Withers got my e-mail on the mistake - later versions of the story should be corrected.

**R0cketer** · April 17th, 2007, 11:59 PM

I emailed as well [img]/LDPforum/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]
The version on yahoo sports has it correct

**imported_VHSLhelper** · April 18th, 2007, 03:23 AM

okay... so, I'm getting ready for bed, and it hits me ...
why was it even mentioned to start with?
Not like the gunman was from there. Didn't try to tie his hometown (of Norton) with small-town life, or (Norfolk) to big city crime, or distance from campus, or anything, for that matter. So why was it even there?

Students - that's a perfect example of bad journalism - a space filler that is tied to nothing in the story AND is incorrect.

**TheBeast** · April 18th, 2007, 08:34 AM

I can remember that when Thomas first went to UVA they had such a stigma against this area that they moved him to Abingdon. Every broadcast or time they mentioned him they would say he was from there.
He did set them straight during an interview finally.