Multiple shootings occurred in Binghamton today
Why
A gunman with a high-powered rifle shot at least four people and took dozens more hostage Friday inside an upstate immigration services center, authorities said. "A number of people are dead," Binghamton Police Capt. Alex Minor told the Daily News from the scene of the shooting. Binghamton Mayor Matthew Ryan said the gunman was inside the American Civic Association building, the Binghamton Press & Sun Bulletin reported. The paper rsaid there were 41 hostages inside. A dozen people were cowering inside a closet inside the building, where emergency dispatchers were in contact with some of the victims, WBNG-TV said. Police closed down nearby streets and locked down a high school, the television station reported. Four people were pulled from the building on stretchers and taken to local hospitals, where the staffs were scrambling in anticipation of additional victims. The condition or exact number of wounded was unclear. "We're on full alert anticipating we're going to get additional casualties," said Linda Miller, a spokeswoman at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Binghamton. The American Civics Association assists immigrants and refugees with a variety of services, from translators to counseling to earning citizenship. A man walked into the American Civic Association building near downtown Binghamton, N.Y. Friday, and shot at least four people, police said. Media reports were conflicted about whether the four people known to be shot were injured or killed. Up to 41 people were in the building, 15 in a closet and 26 in the boiler room, the Press and Sun-Bulletin newspaper in Binghamton reported. Other media outlets reported between 20-40 people were taken hostage. Binghamton Police surrounded the building and SWAT personnel were on the scene, WBNG-TV in Binghamton reported. Four people left the building with their hands on their heads and police searched them, the newspaper said. Emergency services personnel were seen removing several people on stretchers. 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. Officials said he had a high-powered rifle. A nearby high school was under lockdown and patrons and workers at downtown businesses and restaurants were told to stay inside. Local apartments were evacuated and neighboring facilities such as a nearby nursing home also were under lockdown. The American Civic Association helps immigrants and refugees with counseling, resettlement, citizenship, family reunification and translators, the facility's Web site said.
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binghamton press, wbng, news 10 now, binghamton shooting, binghamton ny, binghamton news
References:
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/ny_crime/2009/04/03/2009-04-03_multiple_victims_shot_in_binghamton_ny_c.html,http://www.wbng.com/news/local/42400337.html,http://www.upi.com/Top_News/2009/04/03/Man_storms_building_takes_hostages/UPI-93581238779097/,http://www.hispanicbusiness.com/editors_picks/2009/4/3/four_shot_dozens_hostage_in_binghamton.htm,http://www.cbs3springfield.com/news/local/42416782.html,http://mypetjawa.mu.nu/archives/197090.php
