Hostage situation in New York

Started by Aurafire April 3rd, 2009 11:31 AM
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Aurafire

provider of cake

Age 32
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New York
Seen April 25th, 2017
Posted November 8th, 2011
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15 Years
This is actually right near where I go to school, about ten minutes away O___O

DEVELOPING: Thirteen people are dead after a gunman opened fire at an immigration center in Binghamton, N.Y.

The shooter, described by local media as a young Asian male, blocked the back door of the building with his car, then stormed in through the front entrance while firing a high-powered gun. Several people were taken hostage.

The bloodbath killed 12 people plus the gunman, who wasn't immediately identified.

New York Gov. David Paterson said "12 or 13" were dead; a federal law enforcement official told the AP that the gunman's body was discovered inside the upstate civic center.

"This is a tragic day for New York," Paterson said in a prepared statement. "While the situation is still developing and details are being gathered, we do know that a gunman entered the American Civic Association in Binghamton this morning and that there are fatalities."

Local cops were mum on the number of casualties in the rampage.

Binghamton Police told FOXNews.com that they couldn't give the precise number shot because it was still "an active scene."

The Associated Press reported that at least 41 people were taken hostage, citing police and media sources.

The gunman barricaded the rear door of the civic center with his car before entering through the front door, firing his weapon, at about 10:30 a.m. EDT Friday, a law enforcement official told the AP.

SWAT team officers have surrounded the building but "they do not have it secured," a Binghamton police spokesman told FOXNews.com.

Later, the spokesman said it would be "hours" before the situation was under control at the immigration center.

Paterson expressed "prayers for the victims and families" and said his staff is monitoring the situation. He has instructed state police to help Binghamton authorities "in any way they can."

Emergency dispatchers were in contact with some people inside by phone, WBNG-TV reported. The gunman might still be in the building, the station reported.

Police have locked down a nearby high school and advised local business owners to stay inside.

People escaped to the basement of the building and more than a dozen people hid in a closet, WBNG reported.

The FBI sent hostage negotiators and an evidence response team to the scene, said a law enforcement official who was not authorized to speak about details of an ongoing hostage response and spoke on condition of anonymity.

Earlier, a local hospital said they were treating at least five shooting victims.

The five with gunshot wounds were at the Wilson Medical Center, one in critical condition, hospital spokeswoman Christina Boyd told FOX News.

The wounded ranged in age from 20 to their mid-50s, and their conditions ranged from stable to critical, she said.

Hospital staff were in the process of notifying the families, according to Boyd. None of the victims were immediately identified, and there were extra doctors and nurses there to handle the emergency, she said.

Apartments and schools in the area were evacuated or placed on lockdown.

There were classes scheduled Friday at the immigration services center, located in the same town as Binghamton University, part of the State University of New York (SUNY).

Linda Miller, a spokeswoman at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Binghamton, confirmed that a student from Binghamton University was being treated at the emergency room. Miller said she didn't know the nature of the injuries.

"We're on full alert anticipating we're going to get additional casualties," Miller said.

Around 1 p.m., Pennie Kerber, 72, told the AP in a phone call from her home across the street that the scene appeared to be settling down.

"The cops are all standing around in the front now. They're still all over the roof for sure," she said. "The SWAT shooters that were to the side of the building look like they're not there any more. It looks like it's clearing."

The area is in a stretch on the west side of the Chenango River in the city of about 45,000 near the Pennsylvania border. Emergency vehicles lined the streets in the neighborhood, a mix of homes and small businesses.

College student Leslie Shrager told the AP that she and her five housemates were sleeping when police pounded on the front door of their house next door to the shooting scene.

Officers escorted the six Binghamton University students outside, she said, and that's when they learned of the shooting.

"One of our housemates thought they heard banging of some kind. But when you're living in downtown Binghamton, it's always noisy," said Shrager, of Slingerlands, an Albany suburb. "Literally two minutes later the cops came and got us out."

The American Civic Association describes itself as helping immigrants and refugees with counseling, resettlement, citizenship, family reunification and translators.

It also intervenes with emergencies, including fighting, hunger and homelessness, according to information from the association's Web site.

U.S. senators Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand of New York said in a joint statement that "our hearts and prayers go out to the victims and their families. We are monitoring the situation closely and will do everything we can to help."
Scary stuff...It just goes to show you that this stuff can happen anywhere. Everyone on campus is safe, although one student was hospitalized. What do you guys think? =o

Aurafire

provider of cake

Age 32
Male
New York
Seen April 25th, 2017
Posted November 8th, 2011
5,735 posts
15 Years
Oh my God. That is scary... and you and I were talking about your school yesterday... 12-13 dead. Thats horrible. As of now, what is the status of the area? Thank god you weren't injured.... :(
Nah, I wasn't that close. Binghamton University is like 10 minutes away from the actual city of Binghamton. Nothing happened on campus, except for people getting scared and stuff. ;D

luke

Master of the Elements

Age 33
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New York
Seen 1 Hour Ago
Posted 4 Days Ago
7,796 posts
15.9 Years
This happened three buildings away from me. My work went on the lockdown and people were talking about it all day. It's pretty scary. I'm just glad it's over.
The bloody blade
Age 29
FL
Seen May 29th, 2013
Posted December 15th, 2009
63 posts
14.2 Years
To me it seems like the Mumbai attacks last November on a much smaller scale. Gunmen opened fire in the Taj Hotel, Oberoi Hotel, a train station, and a Jewish Community center. They lasted for almost 60 hours before the hostages were finally released.

In many ways they seem to be an inspiration for what happened today. I am deeply saddened by the loss of life today, and my condolences go out to all the families and friends of the dead.
Age 29
In a box.
Seen April 12th, 2015
Posted June 5th, 2011
599 posts
14.7 Years
:c
Just shows that this stuff can happen anywhere. Once, in front of my house, a guy was shot and later died in some gang incident. There was police everywhere, and the body was there.. it still freaks me out since when they were putting him in the ambulance, a bloody hand was sticking out...

But, I'm really happy you aren't hurt. I hope those people rest in peace.

BHwolfgang

kamikorosu

Age 28
Male
Virginia
Seen February 24th, 2014
Posted May 9th, 2013
3,905 posts
14.2 Years
Oh my God. So, out of fourty-one, twelve were killed, including the gunman himself? Wow, just... wow.

I would have never expect something like this to happen...

Rest in peace you innocent souls. Your families and friends are cryin' to your end, as do I. ;-;

It's just sad when stuff like this happens...

Haza

☆A Life of Pokémon and Beyoncé ☆

Age 31
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Seen September 30th, 2021
Posted March 18th, 2021
6,720 posts
14.8 Years
Thats so scary. Im afraid to go anywhere these days. Damn!

Δloyisious Divo |Haza D'Ξvil
The poison that is always fatal... yet the stinger won't stop stinging
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Pedobear Island.
Seen March 27th, 2010
Posted February 26th, 2010
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I heard about that on the news for CNN lasted about9Am-4Pm I think.

Click on my sexilicious Pedobear to District Zero, an anime lover's site, it's still pretty small, but we're achieving to get a hundred members!I'm known as PapeR BaG there, so remember to sign-up(I hope) :3

Haza

☆A Life of Pokémon and Beyoncé ☆

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Posted March 18th, 2021
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Hope Kira showed up!

But seriously, I don't know why this is such a big deal, I mean it's tragic and all but massacres happen all the time.
Would u like for us to refer to your death like that hun?

Δloyisious Divo |Haza D'Ξvil
The poison that is always fatal... yet the stinger won't stop stinging
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england.
Seen January 16th, 2014
Posted June 9th, 2009
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14.4 Years
This happened three buildings away from me. My work went on the lockdown and people were talking about it all day. It's pretty scary. I'm just glad it's over.

WHoa, that would be so freaky. Like almost a second away. Pretty nasty looking sky youve got there. Whoa, this happens a lot. last year, there was that uni murder. geez, its a small world. Thankfully no one else was killed. :(