Shooters had same weapons dealer

MADISON, WIS. —  The online gun dealer who sold a weapon to the Virginia Tech shooter said it was an unnerving coincidence that he also sold handgun accessories to the man who killed five students at Northern Illinois University.

Eric Thompson said his website sold two empty 9-millimeter Glock magazines and a Glock holster to Steven Kazmierczak on Feb. 4, just 10 days before the 27-year-old opened fire in a classroom and killed five before committing suicide.

Another website run by Thompson’s company sold a Walther .22-caliber pistol to Seung-hui Cho, who killed 32 people in April on the Virginia Tech campus before killing himself.

“I’m shaking,” Thompson said. “I can’t believe somebody would order from us again and do this.”

Kazmierczak carried a shotgun and three handguns into the classroom Thursday. Thompson said he had no idea whether the shooter used the holster or magazines purchased on the website.

Each magazine can hold 33 bullets, Thompson said. He said his site did not sell Kazmierczak any bullets or guns.

The Glock website is well-known among gun users, so it is not surprising that someone looking for accessories for a Glock would find it, Thompson said. But being tied to both of the shootings is “unnerving,” he said. “I still feel just absolutely in shock.”