News, International
Eleven killed in mass shooting in US state of Virginia
01 Jun, 2019
Eleven people were killed and six others injured in a mass shooting at a Government building in the US state of Virginia on Friday, police said.
Police said the suspect, a long-term and current Virginia Beach city employee, fired “indiscriminately” in a public utilities building.
The gunman, whose identity has not been released, was killed when police responded to the incident.
A police officer was wounded when a bullet struck his vest.
Reports of gunfire began shortly after 16:00 (20:00 GMT) at Virginia Beach Municipal Center.
The area, which contains a range of city Government buildings, was put into lockdown by police and employees were evacuated.
“We just heard people yelling and screaming at people to get down,” Megan Banton, an administrative assistant in the building, told local television news station WAVY.
Another employee told the AP news agency she and others heard shooting, but did not think the gunfire was close.
“I just thank god they were able to alert us in time, because if it had been 10 minutes more we would have all been outside,” Sheila Cook said.
Police Chief James Cervera said the gunman returned fire on police officers at the scene and was killed in the exchange.
Police said they believed the gunman had acted alone. (Courtesy BBC)
Recommended For You
