Va. Tech shooter described as "nice guy" by friends; family offers condolences

(CBS/AP) RADFORD, Va. -- "It seemed like he had his head straight," said Brittany Perry, a senior at Radford University about her friend Ross Ashley, the gunman in last Thursday's murder-suicide at Virginia Tech University.

Perry told The Washington Post the two used to work together as stagehands at the university's Bondurant Auditorium and he'd walk her home after late-night shows.

Days after she last saw him, Ashley, a 22-year-old part-time student, flashed a gun to steal a Mercedes from a woman. On Thursday, police said, he abandoned that SUV at Virginia Tech, fatally shot campus police officer Deriek W. Crouse, and was found dead a short time later of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

The events stunned Ashley's friends who say they had seen no indications of anger or trouble.

"I never would have expected this. I mean, he was a nice guy. I didn't believe it at first," Radford senior Garrett Manion said. He lived with Ashley last year.

Jude Jackson, Ashley's resident adviser at Radford last year, said Ashley got in trouble for breaking a dorm room chair, smoking, and skating in the hallways, but always seemed like a nice guy at his core.

"Yeah, he was occasionally in trouble, but he never seemed depressed. He never seemed to be having a hard time," Jackson said.

Ashley's family has offered condolences and prayers to the slain officer's family.

An unsigned statement faxed Sunday to the Associated Press read, "The Ashley family would like to offer their condolences to the family of Officer Crouse. Officer Crouse and his family are in their prayers."

Virginia State Police don't believe there is a connection between Crouse and Ashley, and are attempting to determine a motive for the attack.