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."
