The U.S. network that first aired a video manifesto sent to its offices from the Virginia Tech gunman is being criticized by police and some victims' families for not keeping the footage private.

Col. Steve Flaherty, superintendent of the Virginia State Police, told reporters Thursday that his department was "rather disappointed in the editorial decision" by NBC News to broadcast the disturbing images.

He said he was sorry that the public had to view the images.

On Wednesday, NBC News received and aired material sent from Cho Seung-Hui that included his personal videos, writings and photographs. Before airing footage, NBC did allow law enforcement officials to view the material.

Flaherty said the multimedia package -- which included a 23-page written statement, 28 video clips and 43 photos -- did little to further the investigation.

"While there was some marginal value to the package that we received, the fact of the matter is that we already had most all of the information and evidence," said Flaherty. "The package simply confirmed what we already knew."

Cho sent the material sometime after murdering two people early Monday morning, but before he fatally shot another 30 people in a classroom building and turned a gun on himself.

"Over the last news cycle the families of the victims, they have endured, the Virginia Tech family has endured and indeed the world has endured a view of life that few of us would or should have to endure," said Flaherty.

Family members of some victims also reacted to NBC's decision to air the video by cancelling plans to appear on the network's "Today" show.

"Today" host Matt Lauer said Thursday that NBC feels strongly that "this is not some kind of video that we need to run in some kind of endless loop," and that NBC would "severely limit'' airing the clips.

However, he explained the decision saying it was made to help people understand or answer why the incident happened.

CTV's Joy Malbon said Thursday from the campus in Blacksburg, Va. that the release of the video of the 23-year-old gunman has left students feeling victimized all over again.

"It's almost like this campus and these students have been paralyzed once again by the killer," she said. "It's as if they've been assaulted all over again."

The manifesto

In one of the clips Cho says: "You had a hundred billion chances and ways to avoid today but you decided to spill my blood. You forced me into a corner and gave me only one option."

He also specifically mentions Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold, the teenagers responsible for the 1999 Columbine High School massacre, referring to them as "martyrs."

NBC News did not receive the material until Wednesday morning because of an incorrect mailing address. The envelope is time-stamped 9:01 a.m. ET Monday.

It's unclear when Cho began working on the material, and how much -- if any -- was created after his initial shooting spree.

In some of the videos, he seems to refer to his rampage in the past tense.

In other parts of the video, Cho goes on angry rants about rich "brats" and their "hedonistic needs." Several photos show Cho aiming handguns at the camera.

Thedric Jones, who shared living quarters with Cho and four other students, told CTV Newsnet on Thursday that he was more surprised by the video than the actual shootings.

"(The video was) the first time hearing him speak and show any type of emotion whatsoever," said Jones. "With us, he didn't say a thing."

"I was actually more shocked by the video than his actual actions because once I'd heard it was him who had been the shooter I wasn't entirely surprised... but the video was like a totally different person, especially the smiling photos."

There is speculation that Cho may have been inspired by some scenes from the South Korean movie "Oldboy," part of Chan-wook Park's "Vengeance Trilogy.

In the film, the protagonist's signature weapon is a hammer -- similar to one Cho is holding in one of the photos.

And after escaping prison in the film, the protagonist goes on a rampage against his captor.

Cho's family

Reached in South Korea, Cho's uncle said his nephew was a concern to family members because he didn't speak much as a child, and they were even worried that he might be mute.

The uncle told the Associated Press, however, that there were no early indications that his nephew had serious problems.

"We were concerned about him being too quiet and encouraged him to talk more," said the uncle, who asked to be identified only by his last name, Kim.

He said he did not recognize Cho when his picture appeared on television as the shooter in the deadliest massacre in U.S. history.

"I am devastated," Kim told AP in a phone interview. "I don't know what I can tell the victims' families and the U.S. citizens. I sincerely apologize ... as a family member."

Former high school classmates of Cho told AP that he had endured years of bullying as a teenager. They say he was pushed around and laughed at over his shyness and the way he spoke.

In Seoul, more than 1,000 people sang hymns and prayed for Cho's victims at a special service at Myeongdong Cathedral. White flowers, candles and a U.S. flag adorned a small table in the center of the chapel, while some people fought back tears as they looked on.

Canadian professor

Meanwhile, more details are emerging about the last moments of Canadian professor Jocelyne Couture-Nowak, who was killed in the shooting rampage.

Her boss, Richard Shryock, head of the department of foreign languages says her classroom may have been where Cho killed the most people, including himself.

Shryock said he thinks at least 10 of the 22 enrolled in Couture-Nowak's class were killed. He said he knows of two other who are in the hospital.

Cho reportedly committed suicide at the front of the classroom.

Authorities said Thursday that Cho had been accused of sending unwanted messages to two women more than a year before Monday's events.

He was taken to a psychiatric hospital and was pronounced a danger to himself; however, he was released and told to undergo outpatient treatment.

Officials have set up a state panel's inquest to examine the circumstances of the shooting rampage.

The panel will investigate campus police tactics, academic free speech, the privacy of medical records, the rights of people with behavioral disabilities, the duties and qualifications of professors and administrators in identifying students who pose a risk and how open and free college campuses can be.

On Thursday, university officials announced that the victims of the massacre will be awarded their degrees posthumously during commencement.

With files from The Associated Press