Virginia Beach Municipal Building, Virginia Beach, Virginia

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Location: Shooter’s workplace at Virginia Beach Municipal Building, Virginia Beach, VA

Date: May 31, 2019

Attacker: DeWayne Craddock, 40 years-old

Victims: 12 killed, 4 wounded

Weapon(s): Two 45 caliber pistols with sound suppressor

Type of attacker: Hate/Anger (disgruntled employee)

 

Description:

On Friday, May 31, 2019, at approximately 3:30 to 4:00 pm, a long-term public utilities employee, DeWayne Craddock, entered his place of employment, the Virginia Beach Municipal Building in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Eleven of the 12 people killed were employees and one was a contractor. Ages of victims ranged from 35 to 74. The attacker used two 45 caliber guns purchased legally, He also used a sound suppressor, and he had extra magazines of ammunition. Victims were found on all three floors of the building. The shooter was killed in what was described by police as a long-term gun battle. Four police officers were engaged in the shooting. The Chief of Police reported that an officer was wounded but saved by a bullet proof vest.

 

Earlier on that day, Craddock presented his letter of resignation. It was not immediately accepted because he was in good standing with no past disciplinary actions. The shooting began later that afternoon when he shot a person in a car and then he entered the three story building shooting indiscriminately, shooting victims on all three floors. The shooter was a professional certified engineer who had worked for the city for 15 years. Coworkers described him as a nice guy, and no one saw this coming. However, given the resignation earlier that morning and given his heinous attack, it is clear that the attack can be classified as hate/anger as workplace violence. There were no indications of terrorist slant nor mental health issues. Specific motive is still not known. His parents reported that they were not aware of any issues he had with his employment. More time is needed for details to be gathered.

 

Links:

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Justin Carissimo and April Siese, Gunman, 12 victims identified in Virginia Beach shooting, CBS News, June 1, 2019. https://www.cbsnews.com/live-news/virginia-beach-shooting-municipal-building-suspect-dead-injuries-2019-06-01-live-updates/

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Jim Morrison , Peter Hermann and Justin Jouvenal, Twelve people killed in shooting at Virginia Beach municipal complex, police say, The Washington Post, May 31, 2019.  https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/public-safety/police-respond-to-shooting-at-virginia-beach-municipal-complex/2019/05/31/49dca07a-83e6-11e9-933d-7501070ee669_story.html?noredirect=on

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Eileen AJ Connelly, All 12 Virginia Beach massacre victims identified, The New York Post, June 1, 2019. https://nypost.com/2019/06/01/all-12-virginia-beach-massacre-victims-identified/

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Madeline Holcombe, Holly Yan and Mark Morales, New details emerge in the Virginia Beach mass shooting that left 12 people dead, CNN, June 3, 2019. https://www.cnn.com/2019/06/02/us/virginia-beach-shooting-sunday/index.html