What we know so far:
- At least 12 people are dead after a city employee went on a shooting rampage inside a municipal building in Virginia Beach. Four others were hospitalized with injuries.
- The gunman was identified as Dwayne Craddock, a longtime public utilities employee employee. Craddock was killed in a shootout with police.
- The victims were found on three floors of the municipal building and one victim was found shot in car outside building.
- Police are holding a press conference at 8 a.m. ET. You can watch live in the player above.
Armed with a .45-caliber handgun, a disgruntled city employee opened fire inside a municipal building Friday in Virginia Beach, killing 12 and wounding four others, authorities said. The gunman, later identified as Craddock, died after a long gun fight with police.
Police rushed to the scene shortly after 4 p.m. on Friday. A local police officer was wounded while confronting the gunman. Chief James Cervera said in a news conference Friday that the officer was saved by his bullet-proof vest. Cervera pledged to visit the wounded officer by the end of the night.
Police did not release the identity of the shooter, but Cervera said he was a long-time employee of the Public Utilities Department. "There's no way to describe an incident such as this," Cervera said.
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Follow along below for updates on the shooting.
Gunman identified
Police identified the gunman as Dwayne Craddock on Saturday. Craddock was a public utilities employee for 15 years. Virginia Beach Police Chief James Cervera said Craddock's family has been notified.
Cervera said Saturday will be the only time police announce the gunman's name.
"I don't say I'm in shock, I'm numbed," vice mayor says
Virginia Beach Vice Mayor James Wood said the three-story building where the shooting occurred is open to the public.
"I think the thing that's gone through my mind and everybody else is we know these people," Wood told CBSN in an interview. "I don't say I'm in shock, I'm numbed."
Wood, a former police officer, complimented the Virginia Beach police force for their response.
"Long-term gun battle," police chief says
Virigina Beach police chief James Cervera said at a late press conference that another victim had died on the way to the hospital, bringing the total number of victims to 12 plus the suspected gunman. Four people were taken to local hospitals, and Cervera said some other people had brought themselves to hospitals for treatment.
The suspect used a .45-caliber handgun with a sound suppressor, Cervera said. The suspect, a city employee, was also armed with several magazines. Cervera said they have identified the suspect but it will not be released until after family is notified.
The suspect first opened fire outside the building, and one victim was found shot in a car outside the building, Cervera said. Four officers responded and engaged in what Cervera described as a "long-term gun battle."
Victims were found on three floors of the municipal building.
At least 90 people have sought assistance from the family assistance center. They are still working on making proper notification of the victims.
"This day will not define Virginia Beach"
Virginia Beach Councilman Aaron Rouse sent a message of unity on Friday, saying the city would not be defined by the tragedy.
"We will determine, going forward today, how we respond to our city. We will come together. We will show the strength of our city," Rouse said at a news conference alongside local police.
Officials update on number of victims
At least 11 people were killed and six others were hospitalized after the shooting Friday, police said at a press conference Friday afternoon. They said the gunman, who was an employee at the building, was also killed.
A local police officer was wounded while confronting the shooter. Chief James Cervera said the officer was saved by his bullet-proof vest and pledged to visit the wounded officer by the end of the night.
Employees describe shooting scene
Megan Banton, an employee who works in the building, told WTKR she could only think about making it home safe to her baby.
"I have an 11-month old baby at home and all I could think about was him and trying to make it home to him," Branton said.
Sheila Cook, an employee at the courthouse in the building, said her coworkers didn't realize how close they were to the gunshots.
"We heard shooting, but we didn't think it was that close, like in proximity of the building," she said. "Thank God they were able to alert us in time. If it had been 10 minutes, we would have been outside."
ATF and FBI assisting local authorities
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) said they will be assisting local authorities with the investigation.
6 transported to local hospital
Five of the injured were transported to Sentara Virginia Beach General Hospital and one person was transported to Sentara Princess Anne Hospital, WTKR reported. According to a Sentara spokesperson, the patient at Sentara Princess Anne Hospital is being air lifted to a trauma center at Sentara Norfolk General Hospital.
The extent of the injuries are currently unclear.
Workers leave locked down building
WTKR reporter Kofo Lasaki reports that people appear to be leaving one of the buildings at the scene that was on lockdown. It's unclear which building is being evacuated.
Where the shooting took place
The incident happened at Building 2 in the 2400 block of Courthouse Drive. WTKR reported that the building houses operations, public utilities and public works for the city. It is located in Virginia Beach's sprawling Municipal Center.
Suspect taken into custody
Virginia Beach police said one person was taken into custody after multiple people were injured in the shooting. They also advised the public to avoid the area.
2019-06-01 11:50:00Z
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