Virginia Tech Massacre: Beyond the Obvious

Here's what's obvious:
The shooter was severely disturbedWe're all horrified and shocked by the atrocityThe survivors need love, support, and maybe counselingNot so obvious:
Why he did itWhy he did it Why he did itI'd like to be able to say that I understand why he methodically killed one innocent person after another, why he was driven to these ultimate acts of violence, and why he saw his own life as dispensable.
If we could understand it, maybe we could predict it and prevent it. One can easily speculate about anger, relationships, alienation, and clues from his writings. It is hard to resist thoughts of mental illness or a drastically disordered personality. But how could someone envision such horror that robs lives in their prime, full of such potential, and loved by family and friends? Did he want help? If he could look back at the day, would he do it again?
More people may die in a single market bombing halfway around the world, but there was an extraordinary senselessness about this massacre. The terrorist has a purpose, warped as it may be. The terrorist kills and dies for his or her beliefs. What could the Virginia Tech shooter have believed?
Fortunately these campus shootings are rare events. That's partly why they are unexpected and unpredictable. None of that helps the loved ones of the victims. At least there is a strong positive community spirit that will enhance the healing process.