At least 12 people, gunman dead in New York shootings

Shootings occurred at American Civic Association, which helps immigrants, refugees

April 3, 2009

(CNN) -- A lone gunman killed at least 12 people and himself Friday in an immigration services center in Binghamton, New York, a government official said.

The gunman carried identification that said he was 42 and from upstate New York, the official said.

A warrant is being obtained to search the suspected shooter's home in Binghamton, another law enforcement source said.

Officials would not name the suspect.

Five people were wounded, the official said.

Three victims were taken to Wilson Medical Center with gunshot wounds to various extremities, Wilson spokeswoman Christina Boyd said.

A fourth victim was taken to another area hospital, Boyd said.

The local police command center said SWAT teams are still inside, clearing the building.

The shootings began about 10:30 a.m. ET at the American Civic Association, which helps immigrants and refugees, a law enforcement source said.

More than a dozen people were wounded, and 20 to 40 people may have been taken hostage, the source said.

"This is a horrible situation," Gov. David Paterson said.
 
"There's no available data on what's going on there other than the fact that lives have been lost."

Two people were led from the building in plastic handcuffs, WBNG reported. It was not immediately known whether the two were under arrest.
 
Video from the scene showed a person on a stretcher being taken to an ambulance.

The Press & Sun-Bulletin said that about 10 people came out of the building shortly after noon. They emerged with their hands on their heads. The police searched some of them, the newspaper reported.
 
About 12:40 p.m., another 10 -- clad in white sheets -- came out of the rear of the building, the newspaper said.

Spokesman Richard Kolko said the FBI is sending hostage negotiators and an evidence response team to the scene. The agency has an office in Binghamton, and agents are being sent from offices in Albany and Syracuse as well.

Nearby apartments were evacuated, and Binghamton High School was on lockdown, it said.

"Within minutes, [the situation] turned into one just flooded with police," Bob Joseph, news director of WNBF Radio, told CNN.

The American Civic Association helps immigrants and refugees with a number of issues, including personal counseling, resettlement, citizenship and reunification, and provides interpreters and translators, according to the United Way of Broome County, which is affiliated with the association.

Rashidun Haque, who owns a nearby convenience store, said police had him and his four customers stay inside and away from the windows.

"I'm really shaky, because this kind of thing -- it's a small city, it's a beautiful city, but nothing goes down serious like this," Haque said.