NY Governor: 12 or 13 dead in US shooting (Roundup)

Apr 3, 2009, 18:56 GMT

Washington - Up to 13 people were killed Friday in a shooting in upstate New York, Governor David Paterson confirmed in broadcast remarks.

'A terrible tragedy has occurred,' Paterson said. 'An individual went into the American Civic Association Building ... and has killed 12 or 13 people.'

Earlier reports said four people had been killed at the building, located in the small town of Binghamton, New York.

'This is a horrible situation,' Paterson said. 'There's no available data on what's going on there, other than the fact that lives have been lost.'

He was speaking before an audience for another event, and asked for a moment of silence for the dead.

Paterson and US Representative Maurice Hinchey were to leave for Binghamton shortly, said Hinchey, who called it an 'extremely extraordinary and a deep deep tragedy.'

The shootings took place at the American Civic Association Building, a site that provides immigration and refugee services, including language classes.

Although eyewitnesses told broadcasters that two Asian men had been put into plastic handcuffs and led from the scene, it was not clear if the 20 to 40 hostages being held earlier were still captive.

The shooting started at 10:30 am local time. The first word on a death toll from any official came more than four hours later, with Paterson's remarks.

Heavily armed police and sharpshooters still surrounded the building, according to broadcast footage. Police and medical rescue vehicles surrounded the building. A nearby high school had been locked down to prevent exit and entry.

The FBI had been called in to the scene, reports said.