Virginian Beach shooter kills 12 at former workplace

A gunman named Dewayne Craddock opened fire at a Virginia Beach municipal building killing 12 people in total and wounding several others.

By Associated Press

The gunman in a shooting in Virginia Beach on Friday, identified Saturday as DeWayne Craddock, killed 11 city employees and one contractor, wounding four others. Police responded to the scene within minutes and killed Craddock after a prolonged shootout.

Two law enforcement officials told the Associated Press the gunman legally bought multiple firearms recently and the guns recovered at the scene were purchased legally.

The officials said the guns haven’t been connected to any other shootings in a federal database, but weren’t authorized to discuss an ongoing investigation publicly and spoke to the AP on the condition of anonymity.

Three victims of a mass shooting in Virginia remain hospitalized with serious injuries at Sentara Virginia Beach General Hospital.

Dr. Martin O’Grady told a news conference Saturday that one patient had just gotten out of surgery and another patient faced repeated operations.

O’Grady is head of the hospital trauma unit. He said two of the patients being treated at the hospital had sustained “significant” injuries but were expected to survive. He described a third patient’s injuries as “devastating.” He would not elaborate due to health care privacy laws.

Authorities said earlier that a fourth patient was receiving treatment at a hospital in Norfolk.

Craddock, 40, was described by a co-worker as a “nice guy” who was quiet and polite and who showed no signs of the violence that was to come. He had worked for the city of Virginia Beach for 15 years as an engineer.

Joseph Scott is an engineering technician for the city and knew Craddock. Scott had bumped into Craddock in the men’s restroom of the building just minutes before the shooting, and Scott says he was in complete disbelief after learning later that Craddock was being blamed for the bloodshed.

Meanwhile, Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam visited the hospital where people wounded in the Virginia Beach are being treated.

Speaking to CNN on Saturday, Northam said he talked to family members of the wounded and one of the patients. He also said he thanked the doctors and hospital staff who are helping them.

Northam said such tragedies “are becoming all too familiar.”

Northam also said he spoke with President Trump on Friday night and he offered the full support of the federal government.

Around noon on Saturday, about 200 people held a vigil in Virginia Beach to pray for the 12 people killed.

The prayer vigil drew city workers, community leaders, and residents who just wanted to offer hugs and condolences for the lost lives.

Northam attended the vigil led by a local church, telling the crowd, “We grieve with you” and “we are all in this together.”

President Donald Trump spoke to Northam and city officials in Virginia Beach after the shooting and in a tweet Saturday morning, Trump said he offered condolences to the community and that the federal government is there for whatever is needed.

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