UPDATE: Authorities are still sorting out the details after a shooting rampage Friday at a Binghamton, New York, immigration center left 14 people dead, including the suspected gunman.
A senior law enforcement source with detailed knowledge of the investigation identified the suspect as Jiverly Wong, who is believed to be in his early 40s.
Authorities executed a search warrant at Wong’s home in Johnson City, near Binghamton, and spoke to the suspect’s mother, the source said.
Earlier in the day, Binghamton police Chief Joseph Zikuski said the gunman entered the American Civic Association building. At 10:31 a.m., authorities received a 911 call from the receptionist, who said she’d been shot in the stomach, Zikuski said.
She told police that a man with a handgun also shot and killed another receptionist before proceeding to a nearby classroom, where he gunned down more victims, Zikuski said.
Authorities said 37 people made it out of the building alive, most of the survivors managed to survive by hiding in a boiler room and storage closets.
Nearby apartments were evacuated, and Binghamton High School was locked down for most of Friday afternoon.
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People are currently being released from the front of the American Civic Association at 131 Front St., the site of a shooting this morning. At least four people have been taken out on stretchers.
Four people left the building with hands on their hands. Police were searching some of them.
Four people have been taken to hospitals. The Binghamton and Broome County SWAT teams are on the scene, along with a negotiator.
The SWAT team is getting ready to re-enter the building. The shooter is still inside, police said.
There were reportedly 41 hostages in the building — 15 in a closet and 26 in the boiler room.
Family members of the hostages and victims are gathering at Catholic Charities at 290 Front St. in Binghamton, police said.
At least two ambulances from the scene have arrived at Wilson Regional Medical Center.
Police began staging at Oak and Main Street, the site of the Binghamton High School, shortly after 10:30 a.m. today. Local apartments were evacuated and businesses, such as a nearby nursing home, were placed under lockdown as a precaution.
One male was down with a woman shot in the stomach, according to a police radio. The female victim was a secretary.
Police have since called for 10 ambulances.
Here we go again. A evil human being, not a firearm, is responsible for this situation .The democrats and the Brady folks are celebrating this event as a way to push forward their agenda to take guns out of the hands of law abiding citizens. If this madman is taken alive, a swift, fair trial that will see a quick death sentence carried out will NOT happen. We will pay his housing bill for the next 30 years.
Guns did not take these innocent lives- a evil madman with a sinister goal in mind did.
If you had loved ones in that building let me ask you this,”would you have liked to have someone with a legal concealed carry permit in that building with the courage, training, and firepower on hand to protect the people the state of New York prevents from protecting themselves.? ” I thought so. Me too !
Evil, not guns are responsible for this horrible crime.
David Fulson
“Four people left the building with hands on their hands”…what’s that all about???
Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims. It is sad that immigrants and refugees who often are fleeing the violence of their homelands must become victims of the violence in ours.
Dave Fulson, you are absolutly right!
Another case in point for the right to legally carry arms.
-Better to be judged by twelve, than carried by six.