BREAKING!
ACTIVE SHOOTER SITUATION-municipal center, building 2. Multiple injuries. At this time it is believed that only 1 shooter, and they have been taken into custody. More to follow
— Virginia Beach PD (@VBPD) May 31, 2019
FoxNews reports that a disgruntled city employee shot and killed 12 people and injured four more Friday when he opened fire inside a Virginia Beach municipal building before he was killed by police, authorities said Friday.
Police did not release the suspect’s name or describe a possible motive for the attack.
“This is the most devastating day in the history of Virginia Beach. The people involved are our friends, coworkers, neighbor, colleagues.”
Four people were in surgery Friday night, Virginia Beach police Chief Jim Cervera said.
The suspected shooter died in a gunfight with police officers. A police officer was also wounded, but was saved by his bullet-proof vest, Cervera said.
“I can tell you that it was a long gunbattle between those four officers and that suspect,” Cervera said.
A viewer shared this picture of a @VBPD officer with his hand on the shoulder of a man with a bloodied shirt at the Virginia Beach Municipal Center. #hrva pic.twitter.com/8HIki3UJ94
— 13News Now (@13NewsNow) May 31, 2019
According to WAVY Police say he was using a .45 caliber handgun with a suppressor and multiple extended magazines. He was later identified as a longtime employee in the public utilities department.
Virginia Beach Police Chief James A. Cervera said among the injured was an police officer shot by the suspect. He’s expected to recover.
“He was saved by his vest,” the chief said, later adding: “He was attended to at the scene” before being taken to the hospital.
The other injured were also rushed to local hospitals, with several in critical condition. Sentara health officials said two of those who initially were brought to the hospital later died.