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Gunman in Virginia Beach Attack Planned to Quit City Job, Officials Say Gunman in Virginia Beach Shooting Planned to Quit City Job, Officials Say
(32 minutes later)
VIRGINIA BEACH — The Virginia Beach city employee who killed 12 people Friday afternoon at a municipal office building had submitted his resignation hours earlier, the local authorities said on Sunday.VIRGINIA BEACH — The Virginia Beach city employee who killed 12 people Friday afternoon at a municipal office building had submitted his resignation hours earlier, the local authorities said on Sunday.
Although the police said that investigators were still examining possible motives for the mass shooting, David L. Hansen, the city manager, said that the suspect, DeWayne Craddock, had sent an email on Friday that declared his intention to quit.Although the police said that investigators were still examining possible motives for the mass shooting, David L. Hansen, the city manager, said that the suspect, DeWayne Craddock, had sent an email on Friday that declared his intention to quit.
“He notified his chain of command that morning,” said Mr. Hansen, adding that Mr. Craddock’s resignation had not been forced and that investigators were still trying to recover a copy of the email. “He notified his chain of command that morning,” Mr. Hansen said at a news conference, adding that Mr. Craddock’s resignation had not been forced and that investigators were still trying to recover a copy of the email.
Eleven city workers died in the rampage, which was among the deadliest episodes of workplace violence in the United States in recent years. The employees, who had collectively worked for the Virginia Beach government for more than 150 years, were LaQuita Brown; Ryan Keith Cox; Tara Welch Gallagher; Mary Louise Gayle; Alexander Mikhail Gusev; Joshua O. Hardy; Michelle Langer, known as Missy; Richard H. Nettleton; Katherine A. Nixon; Christopher Kelly Rapp; and Robert Williams. Chief James A. Cervera of the Virginia Beach Police Department gave a more detailed timeline on Sunday about the police response to the shooting, saying that four officers reached the scene, known as Building No. 2, within two minutes of the first emergency call, which came in at 4:08 p.m. Friday.
The chief said that parts of the building, which was built in the 1970s, resembled “a honeycomb” of offices and corridors that was challenging to navigate. Within five to eight minutes of arriving at the building, the chief said, the officers located Mr. Craddock and “immediately engaged in a gun battle.” He said the officers were not wearing body cameras.
Chief Cervera said that he did not know precisely how many rounds Mr. Craddock had fired, but “it was well into the double digits,” and that Mr. Craddock had often been moving during the gun battle. He said one officer was wounded at about 4:19 p.m.
“At one point, the suspect was firing through the door, through the wall at the officers,” the chief said. “And then the firing stopped.”
He said the officers soon concluded that the suspect had barricaded himself in an office. They decided to breach the door, and found Mr. Craddock inside, alive but wounded. Chief Cervera said efforts were made to save his life, but he died later at an area hospital.
Eleven city workers were killed in the rampage, which was among the deadliest episodes of workplace violence in the United States in recent years. The employees, who had collectively worked for the Virginia Beach government for more than 150 years, were LaQuita Brown; Ryan Keith Cox; Tara Welch Gallagher; Mary Louise Gayle; Alexander Mikhail Gusev; Joshua O. Hardy; Michelle Langer, known as Missy; Richard H. Nettleton; Katherine A. Nixon; Christopher Kelly Rapp; and Robert Williams.
Herbert Snelling, a contractor who was at the municipal center to see about a permit, was also killed.Herbert Snelling, a contractor who was at the municipal center to see about a permit, was also killed.
[ Read more about the victims. ][ Read more about the victims. ]
Local hospitals said that four people injured in the attack were in critical condition on Sunday morning. One patient who had been listed in fair condition “is critical this morning due to post-surgery recovery,” Sentara Virginia Beach General Hospital said in a statement. Dozens of tributes — flowers, cards, balloons and American flags among them — were neatly arranged along Princess Anne Road near the scene of the shootings Sunday afternoon. But the area immediately surrounding Building No. 2 was still ringed in crime-scene tape as F.B.I. agents processed evidence.
Local hospitals said on Sunday morning that four people injured in the attack were in critical condition. One patient who had been listed in fair condition “is critical this morning due to post-surgery recovery,” Sentara Virginia Beach General Hospital said in a statement.
Mr. Craddock had worked for the city for about 15 years, officials said, and had trained as an engineer. He spent time in the Virginia National Guard, and public records did not suggest that he had any history with the criminal justice system other than traffic violations.Mr. Craddock had worked for the city for about 15 years, officials said, and had trained as an engineer. He spent time in the Virginia National Guard, and public records did not suggest that he had any history with the criminal justice system other than traffic violations.
[ Read more about the suspected gunman. ][ Read more about the suspected gunman. ]
Two handguns found with Mr. Craddock were purchased legally in 2016 and 2018, the authorities said. Federal investigators said that two more weapons were found during a search of his apartment and that at least one of them had been purchased legally.Two handguns found with Mr. Craddock were purchased legally in 2016 and 2018, the authorities said. Federal investigators said that two more weapons were found during a search of his apartment and that at least one of them had been purchased legally.
The police chief, James A. Cervera, said on Sunday that Mr. Craddock had engaged in a gun battle with four police officers who had entered Building No. 2, the scene of the attack, on Friday. He was ultimately wounded and died of his injuries. Mr. Hansen said at the news conference on Sunday that Mr. Craddock’s job performance in his city job had been “satisfactory, and he was in good standing in his department.” Asked whether co-workers had raised concerns about Mr. Craddock, Mr. Hansen replied, “We continue to look at that,” but added that he was “not sensing that.”
Responding to questions a few minutes later, Mr. Hansen acknowledged that Mr. Craddock had notified the city of his intention to resign. Asked whether Mr. Craddock’s resignation message had given any reasons for his quitting, Mr. Hansen said, “We are determining where that letter is.” But he said he did not believe the resignation was connected with any decision about Mr. Craddock’s future position in the government.
Throughout the news conference on Sunday, city officials referred to Mr. Craddock as “the perpetrator” or “the suspect.” They did not speak his name.