At least 13 confirmed dead from shooting in Binghamton NY

Yankee23 · #1 04-03-2009, 01:39 PM

From pressconnects.com

Thirteen people have been reported dead in this morning's shooting at the American Civic Association in Binghamton, police have told Gov. David Paterson's office.

Two people were taken from the American Civic Association with their hands cuffed behind their back. Dozens of others were being held hostage by a gunman in the Binghamton building.

Scanner reports indicate that police are following another man under the Court Street bridge.

The three patients at Wilson Regional Medical Center ranged in condition, with at least one critical, said spokesman Jon Tooley. According to reports at the scene, two were in surgery at Wilson. Two are women and one is a man; they range in age from 20 to 60.

One patient was being evaluated at Lourdes Hospital, with her condition unavailable, spokeswoman Kathy Kramer said.

Both hospitals postponed all elective surgeries and called in extra personnel to staff their emergency rooms.

According to police reports, more than 40 hostages were in the building — 15 in a closet and 26 in the boiler room. Sharp shooters from the Binghamton SWAT team were poised outside the building at 131 Front Street. The Endicott police bomb squad is also at the scene.

Scanner reports just before 1:30 p.m. indicate that police were asking 26 people in the Civic Association to lie on the floor with the hands above their heads.

Shortly after noon, about 10 people were released from the building, with hands on their heads. The police searched some of them. Around 12:40 p.m., another 10 were released from the rear of the building, clad in white sheets. They were shaken and hugged each other as they boarded a BC Transit bus. All are being considered suspects until they are cleared by police.

Police and ambulance crews 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, including a nearby nursing home, were placed under lockdown.

The high school was also locked down, and will not dismiss students at 2:45 p.m. Parents are being asked not to come to the school to pick children up.

One woman who worked as a secretary reportedly was shot in the stomach.

Family members of the hostages and victims were being told to gather at 232 Main St. in Binghamton, while more ambulance crews were on standby.

Binghamton Mayor Matthew Ryan said the shooter has a high-powered rifle.

The suspect was described as an Asian male in his 20s, between 5-feet 8-inches and 6 feet tall, wearing a bright green nylon jacket and dark-rimmed glasses.

Broome Community College Assistant Professor Tuong Hung Nguyen was asked to work with police to communicate with the shooter. Nguyen is fluent in Vietnamese.

Police shut down Main, North and Oak streets to respond to the incident, as well as Front Street at Gerard Avenue. The Memorial Bridge is also shut down, and police are taping off the corner of Front and North.

Broome County has activated its Emergency Operations Center at the Broome County Public Safety Facility on Front Street. The center opened to help Binghamton officials with the emergency situation at the American Civic Association on Front Street, said Brett Chellis, director of emergency services for Broome.

Police are requesting that mobile phone use be restricted to emergency responders only as they respond to the situation.

The White House has called Ryan, city officials said.

The American Civic Association helps immigrants and refugees with immigration and personal counseling, resettlement, citizenship, family reunification and translators. It also intervenes with emergencies, including fighting, hunger and homelessness, according to information from the association's website.

The ACA had citizenship classes scheduled for today.

Redeemer Lutheran Church at 72 Main St. in Binghamton will hold a prayer vigil at 7 p.m. tonight for those affected by the shooting.