SATURDAY:
8 a.m: Virginia Beach officials have been released the names of the victims in the mass shooting.
11 p.m. The suspect lived in a condominium off Witchduck Road, which police raided Friday night. He was known as a quiet person who kept to himself. A neighbor of the suspect, Cassetty Howerin, who spoke with WAVY’s Andy Fox and said she never imagined he would do something like that.
10:38 p.m. — DeWayne Craddock, 40, has been identified as the suspect in the Municipal Center. Police Chief Jim Cervera says Craddock was a longtime employee with the city.
10:08 p.m. — Sentara officials say four injured victims from today’s shooting are still in the hospital. Three patients are at Sentara Virginia Beach General, with two in critical condition and one in fair condition. Another victim who was taken to Norfolk General is still in critical condition. They say another patient checked themselves into Sentara Princess Anne, but was released from the emergency department Friday night.
9:50 p.m. — Police Chief Jim Cervera says another victim has been pronounced dead. 12 people, as well as the gunman, have been confirmed deceased in total following today’s mass shooting at the Virginia Beach Municipal Center. Multiple people are still injured and at local hospitals.
The suspect, who was a Virginia Beach city employee with access to the building, was reloading his weapon, a .45 caliber handgun with a suppressor and an extended magazine, when he shot following a gun battle with police. Cervera said authorities are in the process of identifying victims so they can make notifications to their families. He said police received the initial call for the shooting shortly after 4 p.m.
Cervera says city emergency officials had trained extensively and are “highly qualified” in the event of an active shooter.
9:20 p.m. The mayors of fellow Hampton Roads cities are sending their condolences to their neighbors in Virginia Beach. Norfolk Mayor Kenny Alexander and Chesapeake Mayor Rick West both released statements after the shooting.
The latest as of 8:46 p.m. — Congresswoman Elaine Luria, who represents Virginia Beach, was being briefed on the shooting before a 9:30 p.m. press conference and released a statement:
“This is a day that will change Virginia Beach forever. I grieve for those who lost their lives, their families, and everyone who loved them. I wish a speedy recovery to all who are injured, and I thank the first responders, medical personnel, and law enforcement for their invaluable bravery and service. Now is the time for healing, coming together, and determining ways to prevent this kind of tragedy from happening again.”
8:40 p.m. First responders are using Princess Anne Middle School as a way to reunite survivors with their families and loved ones following Friday’s shooting.
8:33 p.m. — The Municipal Center shooting happened just about a month after the Pharrell Williams-led Something in the Water festival, which was seen as a major success for the region, bringing people from all backgrounds together for a weekend of music and culture at the Virginia Beach Oceanfront.
Williams, a Virginia Beach native, tweeted about the tragedy on Friday night, saying, “We are resilient. We will not only get through this, but we’ll come out of this stronger than before we always do.”
7:15 p.m. Governor Ralph Northam arrives at the Municipal Center, telling WAVY’s Andy Fox it was “a horrific day for Virginia.”
6:46 p.m. 11 victims have been pronounced dead, as well as the gunman, and another six are injured following Friday’s shooting at the Virginia Beach Municipal Center, Virginia Beach Police Chief Jim Cervera confirmed in a press conference.
A Virginia Beach police officer was shot in the incident, but was protected by a bulletproof vest. He’s expected to be OK.
The gunman was a longtime public works city employee.
Virginia Beach Mayor Bobby Dyer said this goes down as the most devastating day in the city’s history.
6:34 p.m. — WAVY’s Andy Fox reports that multiple city sources say the suspect, who is now deceased, is a disgruntled former city employee who was fired on Thursday, and multiple people are feared to be dead following the shooting. The latest died at Sentara Norfolk General Hospital, Andy Fox reports. However official number of causalities has not been confirmed at this time, and the situation remains active.
6:29 p.m. Six shooting victims have been taken to area hospitals after an active shooting incident at the Virginia Beach Municipal Center, including one to Sentara Norfolk General Hospital. One suspect was taken into custody, and city sources tell WAVY’s Jason Marks the suspect was pronounced dead.
A press conference on the situation was set for 6:15 p.m. but has been delayed.
6:13 p.m. — A Nightingale helicopter arrived at Norfolk General Hospital, a Level 1 trauma center, with a patient from the shooting.
6:06 p.m. — The shooting suspect is dead, a Virginia Beach police source tells WAVY’s Jason Marks. Multiple victims are also feared dead after the shooting. Police are set to hold a press conference at 6:15 p.m. to provide updates.
5:56 p.m. — Sentara has updated the number of patients in connection to the shooting to six. Five are at Sentara Virginia Beach and one patient at Sentara Princess Anne is being picked up by Nightingale for transfer to Sentara Norfolk General Hospital.
5:49 p.m. — WAVY’s Andy Fox reports several people are feared dead, according to a City Hall source. There’s been no official word on fatalities from police at this time.
5:46 p.m. — Virginia Beach sources tell WAVY’s Jason Marks that a police officer was shot, but is expected to be OK. The public works building (building 2) has been cleared, authorities say.
5:38 p.m. — Police are searching the complex building by building, though one suspect has already been taken into custody. Four victims have been confirmed injured and have been taken to the hospital.
5:25 p.m. — Sentara now says three patients have been taken to Sentara Virginia Beach General Hospital and one person was taken to Sentara Princess Anne.
WAVY’s Jason Marks says city sources told him at least one person is dead and at least six injured in the shooting. Police have yet to officially confirm those numbers.
Mayor Bobby Dyer is heading to the area and Virginia Beach Police Chief Jim Cervera is expected to give live updates soon.
5:24 p.m. — Governor Ralph Northam says his team is actively monitoring the situation.
5:14 p.m. — Sentara officials confirm one patient is at Sentara Princess Anne and another was taken to Virginia Beach General. Nightingale air ambulance is also at the scene. The FBI has joined Virginia Beach authorities to secure the scene.
4:51 p.m. Virginia Beach police say they believe there’s only one shooter, and that person has been taken into custody. They say multiple people have been injured. There’s no word on the extent of the victims’ injuries at this time, but WAVY’s Tamara Scott says crews were treating at least four victims. A Nightingale helicopter was landing at the scene at 5:05 p.m.
Nearby Sentara Princess Anne Hospital has been placed on lockdown in the meantime. Police are asking the public to avoid the area. Stay with WAVY for updates.
The latest as of 4:42 P.M. — City Manager Dave Hansen confirmed there is an active shooter situation at the Virginia Beach Municipal Center. He says the suspect hasn’t been apprehended, and he’s seen people coming out of the city’s public utilities department in need of medical treatment.
As WAVY’s Tamara Scott was reporting live, an injured person was being carried in the back of a car surrounding by police, heading toward an ambulance. Moments later, two other victims were being carried in the back of a pickup truck.
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) — Authorities are responding to a possible active shooter situation at the Virginia Beach Municipal Center on Friday afternoon.
Tonya Pierce with Virginia Beach police says there’s is an active scene at building 2 at the center off of Nimmo Parkway.
An employee who works in the building told WAVY’s Tamara Scott that he and several other people were able to safely leave the building after reports of an active shooter. He says he found a woman inside a stairwell covered in blood.
Multiple police units have responded. The center is next to both the Virginia Police Department headquarters and the Virginia Beach Sheriff’s Office, as well as several other government buildings.
There no other details at the moment, but WAVY’s Tamara Scott is at the scene. Stay with WAVY.com for updates on this breaking news.
