Mobile UPI  |   About UPI  |   UPI en Español  |   UPI Arabic  |   UPIU  |   My Account
Search:
Go

Deadly rampage ends in man shooting self

|
|
 
  
Published: April 3, 2009 at 10:10 PM

BINGHAMTON, N.Y., April 3 (UPI) -- A man shot 13 people Friday at an immigration services center in Binghamton, N.Y., before taking his own life, police said.

The shooter was identified late Friday as Jiverly Wong, 42, who also called himself Jiverly Voong, The New York Times reported. Binghamton Police Chief Joe Zikuski said one body found inside the center had a satchel with ammunition.

Police found two weapons with the body, a 9-mm Beretta and a 45-caliber Beretta, both licensed to Wong, the Times said.

The gunman arrived at the American Civic Center, which provides English-language classes and other services, used his car to block the back door and entered by the front door. Witnesses said the shooting lasted only a few minutes.

Police at first assumed the gunman was holding hostages. When they entered the center three hours later, they found only bodies and survivors hiding in closets, a boiler room and classrooms.

The motive for the shooting was unclear. Binghamton Mayor Matthew Ryan told MSNBC there was a "loss of job issue" and that Wong, a Vietnamese immigrant who lived in Johnson City near Binghamton felt "disrespected" because his English was poor.

Police were notified about 10:30 a.m. by a receptionist who "pretended she was dead" after being shot in the stomach.

President Barack Obama, in France and Germany for a NATO summit, said he and his wife Michelle, were "shocked and deeply saddened" by the "act of senseless violence."

© 2009 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Any reproduction, republication, redistribution and/or modification of any UPI content is expressly prohibited without UPI's prior written consent.

Order reprints
  
Join the conversation
Most Popular Collections
Notable deaths of 2012 Scripps National Spelling Bee AmfAR Cinema Against AIDS gala
Indianapolis 500 Presidential Medal of Freedom Memorial Day around the nation
Additional Top News Stories
1 of 27
Snigdha Nandipati of San Diego wins Finals of the Scripps National Spelling Bee
View Caption
Snigdha Nandipati of San Diego, California watches confetti rain down as she wins the two-day Scripps National Spelling Bee championship, May 31, 2012, in National Harbor, Maryland. Nandipati successfully spelled the word .* guetapens *, meaning to lure or ambush. UPI/Mike Theiler
fark
The smartphone is killing the art of conversation. Then again, people said that about regular cell...
Top 5 answers are on the board: "Name some woman Richard Dawson will kiss inappropriately in heaven."...
You know those modular classrooms where you had to go for your art and French classes in high school?...
Ugly ass baby giraffe born in Southern Illinois zoo. Adorable pictures "я" us
If your neighbors ask if you and your wife are into swapping and suggest having a swapping party...
It's a lie