A disgruntled city employee opened fire at the ******ia Beach Municipal Center on Friday afternoon, killing 11 people before being shot dead by police, authorities said.
Six people, including a cop, were hospitalized in the shooting, which happened soon after 4 p.m., police officials said.
Responding police exchanged ******* with the gunman, killing him, ******ia Beach police Chief Jim Cervera said.
The injured cop was saved by his bullet-proof vest, authorities said.
Police said the suspect was a longtime employee of the city’s Public Works Department.
“This is the most devastating day in the history of ******ia Beach,” Mayor Bobby Dwyer told reporters.
“The people involved are our friends, coworkers, neighbors and colleagues.”
Workers who were in the building described a terrifying scene, during which they barricaded themselves in their offices; some hid under their desks.
City employee Megan Blanton told the ******ia Pilot that her supervisor pushed her and fellow workers into an office and propped a desk against a door.
“It felt like forever,” Blanton told the newspaper.
“I never thought this would happen in my building,” Arthur Felton, an 18-year planning department employee, told the Pilot. “The people who were shot — I’m sure I know most of them.”
“This day will not define ******ia Beach,” Council member Aaron Rouse said at the news conference. “We will show the strength of our city.”
Six people, including a cop, were hospitalized in the shooting, which happened soon after 4 p.m., police officials said.
Responding police exchanged ******* with the gunman, killing him, ******ia Beach police Chief Jim Cervera said.
The injured cop was saved by his bullet-proof vest, authorities said.
Police said the suspect was a longtime employee of the city’s Public Works Department.
“This is the most devastating day in the history of ******ia Beach,” Mayor Bobby Dwyer told reporters.
“The people involved are our friends, coworkers, neighbors and colleagues.”
Workers who were in the building described a terrifying scene, during which they barricaded themselves in their offices; some hid under their desks.
City employee Megan Blanton told the ******ia Pilot that her supervisor pushed her and fellow workers into an office and propped a desk against a door.
“It felt like forever,” Blanton told the newspaper.
“I never thought this would happen in my building,” Arthur Felton, an 18-year planning department employee, told the Pilot. “The people who were shot — I’m sure I know most of them.”
“This day will not define ******ia Beach,” Council member Aaron Rouse said at the news conference. “We will show the strength of our city.”
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