Virginia Tech student decapitated

   Another tragedy at Virginia Tech. This one involves two graduate students from China. The victim, Xin Yang, a 22 year old female, was killed by Haiyang Zhu, a 25 year old male, who officials say,  was listed as an emergency contact for Yang. 

  At around 7:00 p.m Wednesday, the students were in a campus cafe when according to witnesses, Zhu attacked the young woman with a knife. There was no sign of discord between the two.

  The Collegiate Times, the university's newspaper, reported that police received a 9-1-1 call shortly after the attack, and that when the first officer arrived, she saw the suspect standing there holding the victims head in his hand. 

"Once again we are challenged as a community to offer support to one another as we process this recent event. Once again we will rise to the occasion," Virginia Tech president Charles Steger said in a statement, saying the university community was "shocked" by the murder.


In a condolence statement, Virginia Governor Tim Kaine said that the latest attack "has no doubt revived terrible memories for countless members of the Hokie family."


Zhu was charged with first-degree murder and was being held at a county jail. He had not had a record with university or local police, the school indicated.


Yang had arrived at Virginia Tech in early January to begin studies in accounting. Zhu was a PhD graduate student in agriculture and applied economics.