What gives the F.B.I. authority to investigate...

VT probably received federal funding of some sort.

Some of the students that were killed were probably ROTC or involved in some sort of military program.

Some of the students killed probably received some sort of federal financial aid.

The shooter had a complicated immigration status and had resided in several states.

There are probably a lot more angles the feds could use as well, but that's all I can think of right now.
 
What if it's considered a "terrorist act"? Or, better yet, what if the school is federally subsidized?

If the FBI wants in, based on the Commerce Clause, they can FIND a way in.

What if some of the victims were out-of-state residents?

All kinds of ways...
 
If the FBI wants in, based on the Commerce Clause, they can FIND a way in.
Click to expand...

Agreed.

Or the local LE asked for their assistance. Also, the shooter did avail himself of the USPS when he sent his package to NBC.
 
The USPS has it's own Law Enforcement Branch dealing with such actions. They are independent of the FBI, and have seniority over them in such cases.

The FBI is the lead agency in Terrorist incidents. They may, as has been already stated, be invited to join an investigation by local LEO, or the governor. There will be a team dispatched to most multiple himicides like this, just to monitor the progress of the investigation until it becomes clear the National Security isn't involved. There is also FBI involvement when a felon flees across state lines. Blacksburg isn't that far from the Tennessee line.:)
 
My money's on the locals calling them in. Even a large city would be overwhelmed with the investigation they'll have with this crime. I don't think the locals had nearly enough capacity and the Feds have most, if not all, of the goodies they'll need.
 
As far as the locals are concerned it is free manpower and technical support.
The Hokie cops are not exactly a large unit.
 
The other responses pretty much spelled out the "federal connections" quite well. Chances are that the local and campus police agencies will rely upon the FBI lab for all of the forensic work.

My guess is that the FBI is only there as an "assist" to the local police, for I haven't heard that they assumed responsibility for the entire thing.
 
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