VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY/AP) — Authorities say that 12 people were killed by an active shooter that was later killed by police Friday at the Virginia Beach Municipal Center on Friday afternoon.
Multiple police units responded, including K-9s. The center is next to both the Virginia Police Department headquarters and the Virginia Beach Sheriff’s Office, as well as several other government buildings.
An officer was among those shot and wounded on Friday, but is expected to recover officials said. Authorities said the officer was saved by his bullet-proof vest.
Earlier, officials said at least six people were wounded and that the shooter was killed.
At a press conference, Virginia Beach Police Chief James Cervera said that a gunman opened fire and shot “indiscriminately” at workers inside an operations building in the Virginia Beach Municipal Building.
Cervera said police returned fire, killing the suspect. He said the suspect was a longtime employee of the Virginia Beach Public Works Department.
Hospital officials said six people were wounded in the shooting.
Sentara Healthcare said on its Twitter account that five people were taken to Sentara Virginia Beach General Hospital and a sixth patient was taken to Sentara Princess Anne Hospital after the shooting just after 4 p.m. Friday.
The company said the sixth patient was being transferred to the Level 1 Trauma Center at Sentara Norfolk General Hospital.
Megan Banton, an administrative assistant who works in the building where the shooting happened, said she heard gunshots, called 911 and barricaded a door.
“We tried to do everything we could to keep everybody safe,” she said. “We were all just terrified. It felt like it wasn’t real, like we were in a dream. You are just terrified because all you can hear is the gunshots.”
She said she texted her mom, telling her that there was an active shooter in the building and she and others were waiting for police. Banton works in an office of about 20 people that is part of the public works department.
“Thank God my baby is OK,” Banton’s mother, Dana Showers, said.
Cervera identified the shooter as a disgruntled employee of the Public Utilities Department. He did not release his name.
The earlier death toll was 11, but police said around 9:30 p.m. Friday that another victim died on the way to a hospital.
Christina Pullen, a spokeswoman for the FBI in Norfolk, said the bureau is assisting.
