What we know so far

A shooter opened fire at a municipal center in Virginia Beach on Friday, killing 12 people and wounding at least four others, according to police.

The gunman, who was a public utilities employee at the center, died at the scene, according to Virginia Beach police Chief Jim Cervera.

The town’s mayor said the shooting was “the most devastating day in the history of Virginia Beach.” 

Here is what we know about the shooting so far.

12 killed at Virginia Beach municipal center

Twelve people were killed and at least four more were wounded in the shooting. Police identified those killed at a press conference Saturday morning: 

Laquita C. Brown 

Ryan Keith Cox

Tara Welch Gallagher

Mary Louise Gayle

Alexander Mikhail Gusev

Joshua A. Hardy

Michelle “Missy” Langer

Richard H. Nettleton

Katherine A. Nixon

Christopher Kelly Rapp

Herbert “Bert” Snelling

Robert “Bobby” Williams

A Virginia Beach Police officer was among those injured in the incident. He was saved by his bulletproof vest, authorities say. 

Virginia Beach shooting: 11 killed after gunman opens fire in municipal building

Shooter is dead, authorities confirm

Authorities confirmed that the shooter, Dewayne Craddock, was an engineer with public utilities for 15 years. He was shot dead in a shootout with police. 

“They immediately engaged with the suspect, and I can tell you that it was a long gun battle between those four officers and that suspect,” Cervera said.

The shooting occurred just after 4 p.m. EDT Friday afternoon, as many employees were leaving for the day. 

“I was scared to death,” City Councilwoman Barbara Henley, who pulled up to the building shortly after 4 p.m., told the Virginian-Pilot.

This is the deadliest shooting to occur in the U.S. since November, when 12 people were killed at the Borderline Bar & Grill in Thousand Oaks, California.

What Gov. Ralph Northam, others are saying about the shooting

Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam arrived in Virgnia Beach shortly after the shooting on Friday afternoon. 

“This is just a horrific day,” Northam told reporters. “And a lot of people are on the scene here. Just our thoughts are for the victims and families. We’re working with our law enforcement, first responders, our folks at the hospital and just making sure we take care of everybody right now.”

The governor also shared his support via Twitter, calling the shooting a “tragic day.”

“My heart breaks for the victims of this devastating shooting, their families, and all who loved them,” Northam added in his tweet. 

Sen. Tim Kaine, who has represented Virginia since 2013, also tweeted a response to the shooting. 

“This day will not define Virginia Beach, our response will define Virginia Beach,” Councilman Aaron Rouse said. “We will come together, we will show the strength of our city.”

Cervera, the police chief, praised responders for how they handled the situation. 

 “When this violent act occurred, police and fire-rescue responded and did the professional thing that they do, because that’s what they do,” Cervera said.

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