Saugus student dies in college shootings

"I just got word he was one of the ones killed in the classroom," said a sobbing Lynnette Alameddine moments after a chaplain called with word that her 20-year-old son, Ross Alameddine, was among the dead. She was too grief-stricken to speak further.

Earlier last night, the anxious Saugus mother was waiting by her phone. She spent hours calling police and hospitals, which she said were unresponsive to her frantic pleas for information.

"This is torture complete torture," Alameddine said of waiting to hear from her son. "I thought I saw my son injured on TV I thought I recognized his legs. I talked to him (Monday) night and he was so happy. I'm such a wreck."

Ross Alameddine was a sophomore who had just declared English as his major. A graduate of Austin Preparatory School in Reading, he was in French class yesterday morning in Room 211 of Norris Hall, where many were slain on the campus.

Messages from friends and family members on were pouring in all day on Alameddine's Facebook.com Web page begging him to get in touch with anyone. Later, postings were full of grief.

"Have no idea how I am going to deal with this. You have affected me so much," wrote one.

"R.I.P. Ross, we love you man and your memory will live on forever with us all," wrote another.

Alameddine's Facebook page shows he wished a friend a happy birthday before heading off to class yesterday. He lists musical interests from Jim Morrison to the Beastie Boys as well as several movies and books.

Massachusetts students at Virginia Tech described being caught in an unimaginable maelstrom of events as the bloodshed unfolded.

"It reminds me of being younger and watching Columbine on TV, and now actually being part of what's happening, it's crazy," said Wesley Hagan, a freshman from Boxford who lives next door to West Ambler Johnston, the dorm where the horrific rampage began shortly after 7 a.m.

An NFL draft prospect from Monson is among those touched by the tragedy, but grateful for their lives.

His voice flat with shock, Hokies star fullback Jesse Allen, 23, recalled yesterday how after he and his girlfriend, Kelly Brown, spent the morning together, she went to campus for a 10 a.m. class. She was unaware two people had already been killed at the dorm, and 30 others were being massacred right where she was headed: Norris Hall.

"The cops rushed her into a room and locked it down with a bunch of other kids," the Pathfinder Regional High graduate said. "If she had been early to class, who knows what would have happened."

John Marsh, 19, a sophomore from Reading, watched in horror as rifle-toting SWAT team members rushed toward Norris Hall. Marsh saw one of the injured clutching his arm as he was driven away by police.

"I was shocked and thought, 'I'm just going to get away from here,' " Marsh said.

Brockton native and former Boston College baseball coach Pete Hughes, who now coaches at Virginia Tech, returned home with his team from a game at Florida State University about 3 a.m. yesterday. Hughes was rousted from bed by the news and immediately began scrambling to track down his players.

One was "bunkered down" in the basement of Norris Hall and managed to escape, while three others fled the dorm.

Freshman Jonathan Ryding of Barre said he heard "faint" gunshots coming from Norris Hall, an engineering building, as he crossed campus.

"I saw a bunch of people just running out every few minutes when police were able to get them," he said. "Everyone is just shocked that this kind of thing occurred."

Also reporting they are safe and sound are senior Adam Kress of Attleboro, junior Erik Kotsopoulos of Petersham, senior Matthew Downey of Plymouth, junior James Gavin of Halifax, sophomore Bradley Shoemaker, 20, of Hudson, senior Beth Goldberg of Newton and Jonathan Skinner of Attleboro.