Official: Hostages held after 'multiple' shootings

[lewisipso]

Official: Hostages held after 'multiple' shootings - CNN.com

(CNN) -- Authorities are at the scene of a building in Binghamton, New York, where there are "multiple" shooting victims and hostages are being held, a county spokesman said.
Broome County Director of Emergency Services Brett Chellis said there is an "active" shooting situation at the American Civic Association, and that several law enforcement agencies are at the scene.
Chellis did not provide numbers of victims or hostages, and had no further details.
The local newspaper, the Press & Sun-Bulletin, said on its Web site that at least four people were shot and 41 people had been taken hostage. The newspaper reported that Binghamton Mayor Matthew Ryan, who was at the scene, said there was a hostage situation and said the shooter had a high-powered rifle.
The newspaper said the incident began around 10:30 a.m. ET. Nearby apartments were being evacuated, it said.
The American Civic Association helps immigrants and refugees with a number of issues, including personal counseling, resettlement, citizenship and reunification, and provides interpreters and translators, according to a United Way of Broome County Web site, which is affiliated with the association.

[IMachU]

Knee-mail sent for a quick, safe outcome for the officers and hostages.

[Jenna]

I hope the officers and hostages make it out safely.

[lewisipso]

Update: 1:32 pm At least 13 people have been murdered and 26 are injured. The gunman is NOT in custody.
Update 2:17 pm The death toll has risen to 15. Police are saying that two gunmen may be involved in this massacre. The gunman/men used their vehicle to block the back door of the building, trapping people inside and entered through the front door… firing randomly.

[Jenna]

I hope they catch whoever did this. May the dead rest in peace.

[Xiphos]

Horrific.

[Donut Aficionado]

Un-stinking real, another mass shooting. I am saddened by the loss of life, I cannot bleieve this keeps happening. I'nm glad to hear the shooter took his own life instead of forcing a SWAT response and further loss of life.



IMACHU: I love the term Knee-mail. I'll be joining you in that.

[Buttercup]

That is horrific.

[lewisipso]

Update 2:33 pm Police now believe one gunman is responsible. He has taken his own life. No word on the wounded or their conditions available at this time. A press conference is scheduled for 4:30 pm EST.
Update: 3:40 pm Jiverly Voong, 41, AKA Linh Phat Voong has been identified as the man behind this massacre. He was from Johnson City, N.Y., a short distance from Binghampton. A motive is not yet know.

[GASheepdog]

A terrible tragedy. I'm watching the press conference now. Sounds like the Binghampton Police responded quickly and there was great cooperation with the other agencies involved in assisting.

[lewisipso]

Update 2:33 pm Police now believe one gunman is responsible. He has taken his own life. No word on the wounded or their conditions available at this time. A press conference is scheduled for 4:30 pm EST.
Update: 3:40 pm Jiverly Voong, 41, AKA Linh Phat Voong has been identified as the man behind this massacre. He was from Johnson City, N.Y., a short distance from Binghampton. A motive is not yet know.

Edited to add...The Binghamton Police Chief has stated that although quite sure officials are not 100% positive the above named individual is the suspect. In fact he has refused to name a suspect during the live update.

[Five-0]

At Least 14 Killed, Including Gunman, In Binghamton Rampage - wcbstv.com

According to this the shooter recently lost his job. Still doesn't make sense to me.

[IndianaFuzz]

I cannot bleieve this keeps happening.

I hate to say it, but I totally can believe it keeps happening. I'm surprised it doesn't happen more. With every one of these incidents that get reported on the news, it sinks into the general psyche of people that such acts terrorize and horrify the public. So any yay-hoo that is pissed off at the world, and willing to leave it, knows that they can make a maximum number of people "feel their pain" by pulling off an incident like this. All they need are guns and a half-cocked plan.

[Five-0]

I agree Fuzz. Most news reports always want to find out "what set this killer off", "we want to understand what he was going through". Personally I don't give a damn what the bastard(s) of all these incidents were going through. The moment someone decides to harm others they are a fanatically madman and need to be taken out, PERIOD. No glamor, no 15 minutes of fame, no understanding just the ending of the threat to preserve the innocent. Let the forensic psychologist figure out what caused it.

[Blades73]

14 massacred in Binghamton this past Friday

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Folks, I can't really say much...I was blocks away when the shots were heard from the courthouse I am assigned to. Its gonna be a rough few months or longer...everyone says,"This sleepy, dying town....shit...something like THAT will never happen here" well....it did. I am consumed by frustration...anger...sadness. ...I just don't know what else to say. RIP to the victims. The soldiers I had drill with this weekend and I, went to the scene and removed our American flag patches and laid them on the mountain of flowers. These were people who legally wanted to better their lives..a piece of America...to have left their war torn, hunger stricken possibly tyrannical governments behind. To start over as future citizens and work their way to a better life than what they had...just to be cut down by this idiot. Please, if you haven't already...please say a prayer for the families of these victims. Our local agencies in conjunction with State and Federal officers, did a very good job. This idiot was dead before the first car arrived on scene...We are all still numb from the shock. Binghamton PD...great job guys and gals....you deserve every bit of the contract that your mayor has refused for the last several years. No, I don't work for them...but I have the greatest respect for my Brothers and Sisters across the street.
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