On Friday, May 31st, 12 people were killed during a mass shooting in the municipal building in Virginia Beach, Virginia.
What We Know:
- The shooter was DeWayne Craddock. He was a 15 year veteran city engineer. On the day of the shooting, Craddock quit just hours before. CNN reported that he told his boss, Dave Hansen, that he was quitting for personal reasons.
- Hansen is the Virginia Beach City Manager and he spoke pleasantly on Craddock’s behalf. He stated how Craddock’s work performance was “satisfactory,” and he was within “good standing in his department.” He apparently had no ongoing disciplinary issues and was not forced to resign. It is for these reasons that there is confusion when it comes to his motive.
- At 4 p.m. Craddock fatally shot his first victim outside of Building 2, a municipal building housing over 400 workers. He then went inside and opened fire on multiple floors. A fellow worker said he saw Craddock in the bathroom that morning brushing his teeth as he normally does, he wished Craddock a good day. He managed to kill 12 people before getting caught, those who survived said they hid with other co-workers. When they were rescued, they had to step over the bodies of their colleagues.
- While co-workers grieve, the police question the gunman’s family to try and figure out his motive. The family reported that they were unaware of any problems he was having with his employer. The family also wrote a note and posted on their front door giving condolences to the victims families. The note read, “The family of DeWayne Craddock wishes to send our heartfelt condolences to the victims. We are grieving the loss of a loved one. At this time we wish to focus on the victims and the lives lost during yesterdays tragic event. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of those who lost their lives, and this recovering in the hospital.”
- Craddock died during an “intense shootout” with the police. His family and work staff can’t make sense of the event, or the reason behind it, but they all attest to him being a good guy. Jospeh Scott, a coworker said he was “a good person,” another co-woker said he was “a nice guy, not a monster.”
There has yet to be details of a funeral services for the victims or the shooter.
