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Virginia Beach shooting: Gunman opens fire in council facility

A blood-soaked victim has become the face of a shocking mass shooting in the US that has killed 12 people, plus the gunman.

Lauren McMah and staff writers
4 min read
June 1, 2019 - 1:51PM
News Corp Australia Network
Virginia Beach shooting: "multiple" deaths after gunman opens fire

A visibly shaken, blood-soaked man being consoled by a police officer has become the face of a shocking mass shooting in the US in which a disgruntled office worker fired indiscriminately on his colleagues before being shot dead by police.

The unknown victim was photographed by witness Alyssa Andrews, who said she was waiting in her car outside the local government building complex in Virginia Beach where the carnage unfolded.

Twelve people were killed when the suspected gunman, identified as public utilities engineer DeWayne Craddock, 40, stormed one of the buildings and fired on office workers with a .45 calibre handgun as they sat at their desks.

Ms Andrews said she was waiting for her daughter in her car right outside the building, along with her one-year-old grandson.

Witness Alyssa Andrews took this photo of a victim after the Virginia Beach mass shooting. Picture: Alyssa Andrews
Witness Alyssa Andrews took this photo of a victim after the Virginia Beach mass shooting. Picture: Alyssa Andrews

“The police were just running back and forth with machine guns in their hands,” she told CNN.

“Then I just saw a police officer run in front of my car with this gentleman that had just gotten shot. I told them I was an RN (registered nurse) I said can I help you. And they said no, stay in your car.”

Ms Andrews said police told her the man had been shot and she believed it was his blood on his shirt. She said she didn’t know anything about him.

“They took him away and I pray that he’s OK,” she said.

The man was taken to safety by police. Picture: Alyssa Andrews
The man was taken to safety by police. Picture: Alyssa Andrews

She said police took her and her grandson to another building for safety. She said her daughter was also safe.

“I just couldn’t believe it was happening, I was so afraid,” she said.

“I didn’t know what to do, I didn’t want to leave the car in case someone was shooting out on the street. I had my grandson in the car so it was just terrifying, unbelievable.”

‘WAR ZONE’ CARNAGE

Co-workers hugged each other and barricaded doors to hide as the gunman opened fire “indiscriminately” in a Public Utilities Department complex building, going floor to floor as he fired on anyone he saw.

Police in Virginia Beach say the death toll has risen to 12 after a victim died in hospital. Four wounded people are believed to still be hospitalised.

The suspected gunman, identified as public utilities engineer DeWayne Craddock, 40, was shot dead in a gunbattle with police.

Craddock was a longtime employee at the Public Utilities Department and had been dismissed from his job hours before the attack, according to local media citing council sources.

He stormed one of the department’s buildings about 4pm local time armed with a .45 caliber handgun.

Police described scenes of carnage as the gunman entered the three-storey building and “immediately began to indiscriminately fire on all of the victims”, exhausting several extended magazines as he went from floor to floor.

The gunman was shot dead in a long gunbattle with police, Virginia Beach Police Chief Jim Cervera said, who added the motive for the “violent, violent act” was unknown.

“They (police) immediately engaged with the suspect, and I can tell you that it was a long gunbattle between those four officers and that suspect,” Cervera said in a press conference.

“I want you to know that during this gunbattle, basically the officers stopped this individual from committing more carnage in that building.”

One employee said the office workers were hugging and holding each while one of the employees’ desks had barricaded at the door.

“We kept hearing gunshots, it was very muffled but we kept hearing people talking.”

Megan Banton, who works in the building, told the Washington Post that some of the people were crying as the attack happened, while some were absolutely silent.

“We kept hearing gunfire,” Banton said. “We were trying to keep as quiet as possible.”

One police officer is among six wounded in the incident, but is reportedly not in a serious condition. The police chief said he was “basically saved by his bulletproof vest.”

The identities of the suspect and the victims are yet to be released.

Virginia Beach Police Chief Jim Cervera speaks to the media.
Virginia Beach Police Chief Jim Cervera speaks to the media.

A heavy police presence remains at the scene after officers searched the building for victims and any potential further armed offenders.

Local media report seeing victims being carried in the backs of cars and utility vehicles towards a nearby hospital. An air ambulance helicopter evacuated one critically injured person.

Police say they are confident there was only the one armed offender.

Virginia Beach Mayor Bobby Dyer said it was “the most devastating day in the history of Virginia Beach”.

“The people involved are our friends, co-workers, neighbours and colleagues,” he said.

WITNESS ACCOUNTS

City Councilwoman Barbara Henley told local media she had just pulled into the City Hall car park when someone told her she should leave as there was a shooter. She had just got back in her car when she heard a shout: “get down”.

People scattered, and Henley drove off. “I was scared to death,” Henley said.

Public Works spokesman Drew Lankford, who works in the Operations building where the shooting happened, said he had left the office to get a haircut. While he was gone, his daughter called and said there had been a shooter in his building.

His daughter, who works in the City Hall building alongside, said security told everyone to get under their desks. He rushed back to the office and saw police hiding behind parked cars with their guns drawn.

GOVERNMENT FACILITY

Virginia Beach police said the incident was in building 2 at the centre off Nimmo Parkway and Courthouse Drive. The building houses public utilities offices and a permits facility.

The centre is next to both the Virginia Police Department headquarters and the Virginia Beach Sheriff’s Office, as well as several other government buildings.

The FBI is responding to assist in securing the scene, as they have jurisdiction over offences committed against government authorities.

The Virginia Beach municipal building where the shooting took place.
The Virginia Beach municipal building where the shooting took place.

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Original URL: https://www.news.com.au/world/virginia-beach-shooting-gunman-opens-fire-in-courthouse/news-story/68b6e325bca033aa48e30d67e336c0f9