Va. Tech offers victims' families payment

BLACKSBURG, Va., Aug. 15 (UPI) -- Virginia Tech will offer the families of 32 students and faculty members killed in an April massacre a one-time payment of $180,000, a report said.

The money would come from a fund used to ask for donations in the weeks following the shooting spree by student Cho Seung-hui, The Washington Post reported.

The administrator of the Hokie Spirit Memorial Fund, Kenneth R. Feinberg, said Wednesday the school plans to distribute all of the $7.5 million fund. Those injured would get between $40,000 to $90,000 apiece, depending on badly they were wounded, the Post said.

A spokesman for seven of the families, Vincent J. Bove, told the newspaper the money "will help the families get back on track" but warned that the relatives will continue to criticize how Virginia Tech officials responded to the shooting and find ways to make the university accountable.

The university had planned to use at least half of the fund for 32 scholarships to honor those killed, but backed down in the face of criticism from some families, who said the money should be applied to their needs.