BLACKSBURG, VA (WTVR) – Virginia State Police said Tuesday investigators are still trying to determine a motive for last week’s murder-suicide at VirginiaTech.
Official said 22-year-old Ross Truett Ashley, of Partlow, Virginia, shot himself about a half-hour after fatally shooting a Virginia Tech Police Officer. [Click here to read more about Officer Crouse]
Additionally, police said the .40-caliber, semi-automatic handgun used in both shootings was legally purchased by Ashley from a licensed, Virginia gun dealer in January 2011. [Click here to read more about Thursday’s shooting]
State police investigators interviewed Ashley’s family, friends and acquaintances over the weekend in an effort to piece together his movements leading up to the murder.
However, investigators have not been able to establish a prior connection or contact between Ashley and Crouse. [LINK: Timeline of shooter’s movements from Virginia State Police]
The Virginia State Police High-Tech Crimes Unit has been extensively reviewing Officer Crouse’s in-car camera video and surveillance video from on and off the campus.
State police said surveillance video showed Ashley at a local retail store in the Town of Blacksburg on Wednesday afternoon.
The Virginia State Police, with the assistance of local and federal law enforcement, have executed search warrants, but since their investigation is ongoing, the warrants remain sealed.
