The tragedy that occurred at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Virginia, Monday, April 16, struck home.

Earlier this year, Brandon Barden, a former quarterback at LCHS, began his first semester at Virginia Tech, after receiving a scholarship to play football at the Division I school. He lives in the West Ambler Johnston Residence Hall, where the shooting started.

Barden left the dorm at 6:45 a.m. for a football meeting - the shooting began at 7:15 a.m.

Thirty-two students and professors were killed before Cho Seung-Hui, a 23-year-old student at Virginia Tech, turned the gun on himself.

"It was a long 30 minutes before I got to talk to Brandon," said Barden's mother, Dr. Becky Barden, who is also the principal of LCHS. "He was doing pretty good. I don't think the full impact has hit him yet. Fortunately, I got to talk to him some yesterday - a lot of people didn't get to talk to their children. I feel for the families."

One of those families was that of Ryan Clark, a former student at Lakeside High School in Columbia County.

Dr. Barden, who served as the assistant principal at Lakeside before coming to Lincolnton, knew Clark. "He was a dedicated student - just a very enthusiastic, wonderful, young man. My heart goes out to his family and friends."