Campus Alert Archive
NRCC

Posted on 4chan at 1:52 PM, Shots Fired at 1:55 PM: A Three-Minute Warning No One Saw

VAshootingemergency notificationmedium confidence
Confirmed Threat

On April 12, 2013, 18-year-old student Neil MacInnis opened fire with a shotgun at a satellite campus of New River Community College located in the New River Valley Mall in Christiansburg, Virginia, wounding two women. MacInnis had posted his apparent intentions on 4chan at 1:52 PM, three minutes before the first 911 call. He was subdued within five minutes by an off-duty mall security guard and two Christiansburg police officers.

Alerts
2
Response
—
Killed
0
Injured
2
Institution
New River Community College
Community College · VA
~5,000 students
Confirmed Timeline

Alert Sequence

2 messages in sequence

Some alert texts below are approximate reconstructions from news coverage, not confirmed verbatim transcripts. Reconstructed texts are shown in italic with a dashed border. Verified verbatim texts have a solid border and are marked accordingly.

INITIAL ALERTSMS
Approximate reconstruction171 chars
NRCC ALERT: Shooting reported at the New River Valley Mall campus location. Avoid the area. The campus is on lockdown. Stay in a safe place and await further instructions.

This text has been reconstructed from news coverage and may not reflect the exact original wording.

The NRCC satellite campus was located inside the New River Valley Mall in Christiansburg, Virginia, not on the main campus
MacInnis was subdued within five minutes of the first shots, making this a very brief active shooter event
The shooting occurred less than four months after the Sandy Hook Elementary massacre
ALL CLEARSMS
Approximate reconstruction174 chars
NRCC ALERT UPDATE: The suspect at the mall campus has been taken into custody. Two people have been injured and are receiving medical treatment. The lockdown is being lifted.

This text has been reconstructed from news coverage and may not reflect the exact original wording.

An off-duty mall security guard and two Christiansburg police officers subdued MacInnis
Both victims survived their injuries
Context

Background

The New River Community College shooting on April 12, 2013, is notable for the shooter's pre-attack online post and the rapid resolution by bystanders and police. Neil MacInnis, an 18-year-old NRCC student, brought a shotgun to the college's satellite campus inside the New River Valley Mall in Christiansburg, Virginia, and opened fire, wounding two women. ABC News reported that MacInnis appeared to have posted his intentions on 4chan at 1:52 PM EDT, just three minutes before the first emergency call to police at 1:55 PM. The post included details about his weapons and ammunition. MacInnis was subdued within five minutes by an off-duty mall security guard and two Christiansburg police officers. During a police interview, MacInnis said he was 'having a bad week.' He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 38 years in prison. The shooting occurred in the same Virginia community college system as Virginia Tech, fewer than 30 miles away, six years after the deadliest campus shooting in U.S. history.
Analysis

Key Findings

The shooter posted apparent intentions on 4chan three minutes before the first 911 call, an early example of pre-attack social media signals that would become a recurring pattern
The five-minute response time from first shots to apprehension was exceptionally fast, aided by the mall location with security already present
The satellite campus location inside a shopping mall created a dual-use environment, blurring the line between campus and public space security
The incident occurred in the same Virginia community college system and geographic region as Virginia Tech
Outcome
MacInnis pleaded guilty to two counts of aggravated malicious wounding and firearms charges. He was sentenced to 38 years in prison. MacInnis told police he was 'having a bad week.'
Provenance

Sources

  1. News
    CNN: Student shot 2 women at Virginia community college before being subdued
    cnn.com
  2. News
    ABC News: Weapons, Ammo Used in Va. Community College Attack May Have Been Posted Online By Shooter
    abcnews.go.com
  3. News
    WSET: Police Release Suspect's Name in New River Valley Community College Shooting
    wset.com
  4. Student Paper
    Collegiate Times: NRCC shooter pleads guilty in court
    collegiatetimes.com
Tags
shootingcommunity-collegemall-campus4chan-postpre-attack-warningrapid-responsevirginia2013
Added May 2026Updated May 2026Via ingestion