Asian-American community members are fearful of a backlash given the recent events at Virginia Tech and are urging Americans not to reduce the tragedy into stereotypical assumptions about Asian Americans or Korean Americans in particular.

The Asian American Psychological Association on Thursday said that in the search for simple answers and sound-bites, the spotlight may swing towards the issues of race, ethnicity and culture.

“Although the alleged perpetrator has been identified as a Korean American immigrant, it is important to remember that no person’s actions are solely related to their race and/or culture. We also caution against retaliation directed at members of the Asian American community and call attention to the injustice and inappropriateness of such possible responses in the hope of preventing them,” said a AAPA statement.

Meanwhile, Lee Seung-wook, head of Virginia Tech’s Korean Students Association said the association would hold a meeting for any reports of threats or racial discrimination.

“I am worried that the Americans will treat all Asian students, including Koreans, as criminals,” Lee told the Joong Ang Daily.

Another Korean student, John (last name withheld), a 1996 Virginia Tech alum, said he had heard reports of most Koreans leaving the campus due to fears of a backlash.

“When I heard it was an Asian shooter, I was surprised but when I found out it was a Korean, it was sickening,” he said. “As a race we are not known to commit such kind of crimes so it was shocking.”

According to Dr. Karen Sternheimer, professor of sociology at the University of Southern California, with the shooter dead people have no specific outlet for targeting their anger (such as what happens during a trial), so we often seek others to blame, often wrongly.

“Hopefully the fears will turn out to be unfounded, but unfortunately people sometimes take out their anger and frustration on those who they think look like the person who committed an atrocity,” Sternheimer said.