12 people killed in mass shooting in Virginia govt complex

SANAA, June 1 (YPA) – At least 12 people were killed and four others wounded in a mass shooting in a government building complex on Friday in the US state of Virginia, police said.

The shooter was also killed after an extended gun battle with responding officers, in a scene that “best could be described as a war zone,” Virginia Beach police chief James Cervera told reporters during a news conference.

The shooting happened just after 4:00 pm (2000 GMT), when the gunman entered one of the buildings at the Virginia Beach municipal complex and “immediately began to indiscriminately fire on all of the victims,” Cervera said.

One victim was killed outside in his vehicle, while the others were found on all three floors of the building.

Police upgraded the casualty toll to 12 dead and at least four wounded Friday night, after earlier reporting 11 dead and six wounded.

E.M