BINGHAMTON: A lone killer armed with at least two handguns massacred 13 people at a citizenship center in New York state on Friday before

New York state police surround the building in Binghamton where a gunman held dozens hostage. (AFP Photo) More Pictures

apparently shooting himself, police said.
The slayings took place on the main floor of the American Civic Association (ACC) in Binghamton, 135 miles (217 kilometers) northwest of New York City.

The gunman, reported by media outlets to be of Vietnamese origin, had barricaded a car against the back door of the center to prevent escape. He then entered the front of the building and opened fire, apparently committing suicide soon after.

Dozens more people spent four hours cowering in the center's basement, waiting to be told by police that they were safe to leave.

Local police chief Joseph Zikuski said that there were "14 confirmed dead in the building" and that he had "very good reason to believe that the shooter is among the dead at the scene."

"We removed safely 37 people. Four people we removed are wounded. All four are listed in critical condition," Zikuski told a press conference.

However, he cautioned "by no means are we 100 percent sure" about the killer's body being among those at the building.

Zikuski said that the emergency call was made by the first woman shot by the gunman, a receptionist shot in the stomach but who pretended she was dead until she could make her escape.

"A lone gunman entered the building and immediately shot her and another receptionist. Unfortunately that (second) receptionist is now deceased. Then he went into another room and shot several more people."

Two handguns were recovered at the scene, he said.

CNN identified the gunman as Jiverly Wong, in his early 40s, from Johnson City, near Binghamton, where he lived with his mother. Police have searched his home, CNN said.

Zikuski said the gunman had been "recently terminated from a job. He didn't speak English very well," and was feeling pretty low.

US President Barack Obama, on a visit to France, said he was "shocked and deeply saddened to learn about the act of senseless violence."

Many of those in the center, which helps people prepare for citizenship tests, were apparently of Vietnamese origin and did not speak good English.

Eyewitness Richard Griffis told CNN the school was "kind of a melting pot for people."

New York state Governor David Paterson said victims were there to pursue "the American dream."

"There still is an American dream and all of us who are Americans will try to heal this very, very deep wound in the city of Binghamton," he said.

The outburst of violence apparently was over quickly, but hours of tension followed.


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