Gunman 'takes hostages' in NY state

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/7982313.stm

This doesn't look good...

no it doesn't. jesus.

http://www.mercurynews.com/news/ci_12063914

A man went into a building and started shooting, according to police scanner traffic reported by WBNG-TV. The gunman had a high-powered rifle, Mayor Matthew Ryan told the newspaper.

When the shooting started, people escaped to the basement in search of safety. More than a dozen people were hiding in a closet for more than an hour.

Gunman cool boy

ugh do we have disgruntled shootings every day or what

it seems like it

I got pissed all over for suggesting this in the other thread about disgruntled shootings, but I really think the frequency of these ties in strongly with the shitty economy.

also phases of the moon

but I really think the frequency of these ties in strongly with the shitty economy.

gee just like all other violent crime

some effective gun control laws would be nice dontchathink

ugh

someone might need to shoot up an nra meeting for that to happen.

if they aren't gonna ban guns they should ban ammo clips so that reloading is like using a musket. good luck killing multiple people then.

someone might need to shoot up an nra meeting for that to happen.

if that's all it takes.......

I went to a gun show once and was struck by how guns unite people from all across the broad spectrum of American society. Rich, poor, male, female, all ethnic groups were well represented. Everybody loves firearms...

... I declined the free NRA membership that came with the admission price

This is about an hour from where I live. My girlfriend (photojournalist) just took off to cover it for the paper.

The building where this is taking place assists immigrants with resettlement, citizenship, etc. Rrrrreally hoping the gunman isn't trying to make some sort of point about that.

enjoying how the British reporter on the radio say "Binghamton."

'bing-hampton,' yes?

Gunman is described as "of Asian appearance," ZS, so there's ... urgh, I hate to even start dumb useless speculations and such, but quite possibly he has some, umm, personal relationship with the institution, rather than the point-making you're fearing.

maybe it's similar to the nursing home shooting in that respect?

Oh, shit: it's over? I didn't see that The Lede on NYT was updating:

http://thelede.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/04/03/shooting-in-binghamton/?ref=nyregion

Updated | 2:02 p.m.
Police now tell local TV that at least 12 people have been killed. Medics are going into the building now. The Times has not confirmed that number.

Updated | 2 p.m.
Police are looking for someone who speaks Vietnamese to help them with translation. It is not clear if the suspects or the hostages are Vietnamese, but the language barrier appears to be delaying the investigation and the release of information.

Updated | 1:58 p.m.
Local news from Channel 10

Updated | 1:56 p.m.
A local witness is telling Fox News that a local police officer told her that 13 are dead.

Updated | 1:53 p.m.
The AP is still saying that 4 people are dead.

Updated | 1:52 p.m.
Mayor Ryan is planning a news conference at 4 P.M. ABC News reports that 13 people were killed. The New York Times has not confirmed that number.

Updated | 1:45 p.m.
A cheer has gone up among the crowd outside the building, suggesting the hostage stand-off may be coming to an end.

Updated | 1:43 p.m.
It appears that the hostages have been freed, and you can see family members running toward the building.

Updated | 1:42 p.m.
A local TV reporter is talking to two witnesses who say that two Asian men were taken out of the building, both handcuffed.

jesus fucking christ

i hope he/they didn't get a chance to off themselves

Updated | 1:42 p.m.
A local TV reporter is talking to two witnesses who say that two Asian men were taken out of the building, both handcuffed.

bumped up the spree shooting thread.

Updated | 3:23 p.m.
CNN reports that there are 13 dead — 12 hostages plus the gunman, who died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. The network adds that 5 others are in local hospitals.

The dead gunman was carrying identification with the name Jiverly Voong, age 42, from upstate New York, reports CBS News correspondent Bob Orr. He apparently acted alone although investigators are still questioning a number of people who were inside. The motive is not known.

The name is an alias that the man has used in the past, said the official, who was not authorized to speak publicly and was talking on condition of anonymity

Voong had recently worked at IBM, but was let go.

if they aren't gonna ban guns they should ban ammo clips so that reloading is like using a musket. good luck killing multiple people then.

― bnw, Friday, April 3, 2009 11:51 AM (4 hours ago) Bookmark

http://blogs.dallasobserver.com/dc9/chapelle.jpg

okay not exactly but u get me

maybe this will finally get people to realize there is no "p" in "binghamton" (the city was named for someone named bingham; also it's not in the hamptons)

I think you might be having a Chapelle/Rock mixup you racist

Actually wait, maybe I am

The apparently connection (and please let me know if this is like an illusory connection) between layoffs/financial ruin and this kind of thing is ... well, unsettling, in a time like this

interestingly in the black comics jokes about ammo vein, bill cosby has/had a really funny bit where he pantomimed reloading a musket

Voong had recently worked at IBM, but was let go.

― velko, Friday, April 3, 2009 5:23 PM

oof

I think you might be having a Chapelle/Rock mixup you racist

― nabisco, Friday, April 3, 2009 5:31 PM (4 hours ago)

ha actually iirc it was chris rock who had that bit about bullets should cost ten thousand dollars apiece

maybe this will finally get people to realize there is no "p" in "binghamton" (the city was named for someone named bingham; also it's not in the hamptons)

― battlestar elastica (get bent), Friday, April 3, 2009 5:29 PM (4 hours ago)

whoops meant to otm that second statement but you get it

was it?? i searched google to make sure and it said chappelle :-/

lol i am a racist