Gunman slaughters 14 at centre for would-be US citizens (2nd Roundup)

Apr 3, 2009, 22:33 GMT

Police officers (L) investigate the scene at the American Civic Association building where a gunman killed at least 13 people before committing suicide in Binghamton, New York, USA, 03 April 2009. The gunman allegedly barricaded the back door of the community center with his car before opening fire on a room full of immigrants taking a citizenship class. EPA/JUSTIN LANE

Washington - Fourteen people, possibly including immigrants who were studying to become US citizens, were slain Friday in central New York state by who police believe was a lone gunman who apparently then turned the gun on himself.

Another four people were critically injured by gunshot wounds and were undergoing surgery, officials said in broadcast remarks.

Joseph Zikuski, police chief of the city of Binghamton, said the identity of the killer was not yet certain, but evidence in the form of ammunition in a satchel around his neck was found on the suspect's body.

The slaughter took place at the American Civic Association Building, which provides services to refugees and immigrants and classes to prepare them for US citizenship.

There were reports that a number of Vietnamese immigrants were in the building, and US Vice President Joe Biden, who was in New York city Friday, said some of the victims were taking citizenship exams. But there has been no confirmation. There were reports that police asked for a Vietnamese translator at one point.

'These people were trying to better themselves by trying to become citizens,' Zikuski said.

Thirty-seven people escaped the lethal attack, including 26 people who fled to the basement with their cell phones when they heard gunshots, Zikuski said. Most of the survivors could not speak English.

They locked themselves in the boiler room, following instructions from police on their cell phones about how to barricade the door.

Over the next four hours or so, police gave continued reassurances 'that we would come and get them. They were antsy and wanted to come out,' the police chief said.

It took nearly four hours for the SWAT team to clear every room and cupboard in the building to make sure there were no other gunmen waiting to attack.

'The attack obviously was premeditated,' Zikuski said, referring to a borrowed car that was parked behind the building to block people from leaving by the back door.

'He barricaded this door so no one could get out,' the police chief said.

The suspected killer, who was 'no stranger' to the civic association, then walked around to enter by the front, shooting two receptionists with a hand gun. One of them was killed, and the second fell to the floor and pretended to be dead.

After the gunman left the reception area to start shooting in the next room, she crawled under a desk and called police.

She was the only living witness who could identify the killer, and police debriefed her on the way to the hospital, where she was undergoing surgery for gunshot wounds in her stomach, Zikuski said.

Zikuski cleared up earlier reports that two Asians had been handcuffed and led away as suspects, saying all males who fit the receptionist's description were held for initial questioning as police cleared the building.

New York Governor David Paterson, who rushed to the scene in time for the late afternoon press conference, declared the shooting 'a tragic day for New York.'

He referred to all the recent mass shootings in the US over the past few months. These included a murder-suicide in California in an immigrant family from India, the killing of eight people at a nursing home in Carthage, North Carolina, and the slaying of four California police officers.

US President Barack Obama, in Europe attending the NATO summit, released a statement saying he and his wife Michelle were 'shocked and deeply saddened' by the 'senseless violence in Binghamton.'

'We've got to figure out a way to deal with this senseless, senseless violence,' said Biden at a conference in New York city.