Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Newsroom

At Least 12 Killed in New York Shooting

Aired April 03, 2009 - 15:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: We're going to continue our breaking news coverage of that shooting and hostage situation in Binghamton, New York.

Rick Sanchez, a couple new things that we have learned. I know you'll follow these leads.

Possibly 13 dead. The gunman possibly taking his own life, being found inside that building. Also, it's possible he is Vietnamese. Apparently a translator was called in that spoke Vietnamese.

So we're trying to piece it all together to find out who this was, why he did what he did, and if indeed this is over.

RICK SANCHEZ, CNN ANCHOR: Well, we're trying to find out here. I'm over on the national desk area for those of us at CNN. This is where some of the folks take the calls from sources, police, and obviously some of the folks in -- some of the affiliates in the northeast of the United States.

We're getting information now that the gunman may have been found dead in the building. We're trying to nail that down as we can. I've got Steve (ph) over here to my right. I've got Stephanie (ph) over here to your left, I should say, and my right with Steve (ph). They're trying to nail down that information now.

Interesting, Kyra, as we watch this story unfold, it's a place where -- and we want to be as judicious as possible with the information, but this is a place where people would come to become American citizens. It's probably one of the most proudful things that a person can do. It's a dream come true.

It is just on a personal and as a side note something that I once did. I once became an American citizen, had to learn this information, take the test. So, it's important to note as we go into this story exactly what it is that these people were doing when they may have been massacred, gunned down by this gunman who still we have not been able to confirm, one way or another, whether he is in fact deceased.

But all indications, all signs seem to be pointing in that direction right now. It's hard to tell, Kyra, at this point, exactly what the situation is going to be for police. Take a look at these pictures, and you will see exactly as the story unfolds.

Those of you who are joining us now, it is 3:00 p.m. Eastern, noon out West in the United States. And you see the story as it started to unfold, as remarkable as it was. There are some of the people on the scene. I would also like to welcome now our international viewers who are following this massacre in Binghamton, New York, a part of the United States that in the past has actually been written up for being a retirement community, although we're learning now here, as I sit here at the national desk area, from our crews who have been working this story that this was not necessarily a part of town that most would consider the most peaceful or quiet part of town.

This is a part of Binghamton, New York, where often police would be called, certainly nothing like this before. Now, we're looking at SWAT teams as they have been arriving and leaving the scene. Let me tell you the very latest as we learned from officials moments ago.

We got information moments ago from some of the sources and some of affiliates on the scene that some of the containment tape that's often used by police where a crime occurs was moved from one location to another, not knowing specifically why they would do that.

There's several reports that we have been following that at least two other people, aside from the gunman, may have been taken into custody. Now, keep in mind, from working these stories, I can tell you, when someone's taken into custody, that doesn't necessarily mean that they're considered suspects. They could easily be persons of interest. They could easily be someone who is being taken away from the scene for their own protection in this case.

And there you see, once again -- we're going to be flashing -- what we're going to do is we're going to take the pictures as we get them. Let me tell you who the affiliates are in this case. These are two affiliate stations that we work with. That's why we have been on top of the story since it first began.

It's News 10 Now, and WBNG, both of us -- serving us quite well over the last couple of hours, bringing us some of the information on this story. As we get the pictures, we're going to continue to share them with you. And, again, we have got -- we are exactly at the epicenter of where the news comes in right now.

This is part of the CNN NEWSROOM, as large as it is, where we have writers and researchers who are gathering the information. And we're going to be sharing it with you as we come in.

Still to be nailed down, again, several minutes now past 3:00, as we try and piece this thing together for you, exactly how many people have been killed. The number now seems to be 12, possibly 13. Is that without including the gunman, if the gunman is dead? We don't know.

Like I said, all signs seem to point in that direction. That's important to point out. We're getting information now that several public officials in New York are getting on planes and flying in here to try and assess the situation as well.

The governor of New York, Governor Paterson, made a statement just moments ago. We want you to listen to it while we continue to show you the pictures. In fact, we're going to keep our eye on the pictures as they continue to come in. And we will be sharing with you those pictures with a certain level of immediacy.

Here now, Governor Paterson.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GOV. DAVID PATERSON (D), NEW YORK: An individual went into an American Civic services center at 135 Front Street in Binghamton and has killed 12 or 13 people.

This is a horrible situation. There's a lot -- there's no available data on what's going on there, other than the fact that lives have been lost.

And there's absolutely no reason or excuse for this kind of shooting and brutal attack of innocent people right here in New York State. And so, on behalf of the residents of New York, and I'm sure Americans and people around the world, we would like to extend the prayers to the citizens of Binghamton and to the families who have been obviously traumatized by this event.

And I would like to ask for a moment of silence to that effect.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SANCHEZ: All right, we have got some new information coming in to us now. I want to share this with you.

This is Karen Lee with News 10 Now. And we received this report just, really, seconds ago, as we were monitoring the news conference that was being given by Governor Paterson of New York. I want you to take a listen to this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KAREN LEE, NEWS 10 NOW REPORTER: Jodi (ph), just a few more details.

I just got finished talking to the Binghamton police chief. And he says, contrary to what almost everyone here has been reporting, the two Asian men who were arrested are not suspects. They said it was just a precautionary measure, since the shooter is a male, that they were taking all.

And, as a safety -- safety -- safety measure, they were taking these Asian men, but they were not arrested. They are not suspects. And they said, as of right now, the building is secure and everyone alive is out of the building. And of course, we will have...

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SANCHEZ: We're getting information now that we might be able to talk to somebody who's actually at the medical center, where we understand several people have been transported throughout the course of the day. Just to check on those numbers once again, Stephanie, quick question, quick question to you. Twelve to 13 is still the number that we're going with, right? Have we confirmed the 13?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We have not confirmed the 13th yet, definitely at least 12, possibly 13. And the gunman is among the dead.

SANCHEZ: All right. Thanks so much.

Once again, confirming now that the gunman is among the dead, that's the information.

Roger, I'm moving this mike down. That's the information that's coming to us from now several sources. We're going with it, that the gunman has been found dead in the building, once again, that the gunman has been found dead in the building.

To clear up one other thing, because I know we stated it moments ago, and you saw it in Karen Lee's report, but we really want to be as judicious as possible as we get this information as breaking news to you, that those two people who were apparently taken into custody are not, you heard from Karen Lee in her report moments ago, those two people who were taken into custody are, according to officials there, not suspects.

So, we will continue to work that part of the story as well. How many people have been injured? How many people have been taken to local hospital? The Wilson Medical facility is where many of them would have been taken.

And we have Christina Boyd. She's joining us now by phone to fill us in on what's going on there.

Christina, what do you have?

CHRISTINA BOYD, WILSON MEDICAL CENTER: Well, we do have three victims who were brought in to our facility this morning.

Wilson is a regional trauma center. So, the most seriously injured victims were brought here. We have two females, one male, all with gunshot wounds, one stable, one serious, one critical. And we have been -- we are prepared, but have been advised we will be receiving additional casualties.

SANCHEZ: So, can you give us -- can quantify this for us as we look at these pictures once again coming in from Binghamton?

For those of you who are perhaps now joining us, as many as 12, possibly 13 people are dead in what is starting to look more like a massacre than just a shooting in this case.

It was people who were getting ready to prepare themselves to become American citizens, getting ready to take their citizenship test.

Back to Christina Boyd. She's at the Wilson Medical Center.

Christina, can you quantify for us how many people in all have been injured or taken to area facilities, whether it's yours or others?

BOYD: There were four victims taken to medical facilities, three here to Wilson Medical Center and one to another local community hospital.

SANCHEZ: Do we know what their injuries were?

BOYD: We -- they were gunshot wounds to various extremities. We don't know the details of all of the injuries at this point. We do have two patients in surgery as we speak.

SANCHEZ: Well, it's interesting. We have some pictures.

Roger, see if you can find the pictures of some of the -- let's try and put direct video to what Christina is helping us out with. We're parsing through the information now, who may have survived this and what stories they will soon be telling.

We do have some video in the system -- I think I saw it just a while ago -- of some of the victims who were taken out of the area. You see one of them in a gurney being wheeled out while they're working on them.

So, tell us, Christina, while we look for that video, if you would, of these two victims, and you said that they're in surgery.

BOYD: Yes.

SANCHEZ: What are surgeons doing?

BOYD: Well, clearly, they're working -- they're trauma surgeons who are working on gunshot wounds. Again, I can't really talk about the nature or location of the shooting.

SANCHEZ: Can you indicate to us, and I guess this is what I was trying to get at, forgive me for not being more direct, how serious their gunshot wound may be?

BOYD: Well, the two patients that we currently have in surgery, one is in serious condition, one is in critical. So, I would say these were serious -- they were significant injuries.

SANCHEZ: What have you learned from any of the victims or any of their families or any of the police authorities or paramedics who you have talked to who have been at the scene, that maybe you can share with us?

BOYD: We have really learned nothing at this point. The Binghamton police are working with the people who had been held hostage. They're being debriefed as we speak.

We do have family members here. But clearly their focus right now is on the health of their loved ones.

SANCHEZ: Well, my best to you, Christina Boyd.

BOYD: OK.

SANCHEZ: Thanks so much really for taking time to talk to us.

BOYD: OK.

SANCHEZ: Get back to work if you possibly can. And I thank you again. Our best to everyone over there at the Wilson Medical Center in Binghamton, New York, as we watch this story unfold.

There's that shot we were talking -- take that full, if you would, Rog. Take that full. There it is. There's one of the shots we have been telling you about.

For those of you just now getting home at 3:00, what a scene in Binghamton, New York. We have got at least 12 people killed. Four people have been taken to hospitals. Two other people, we understand, were taken away by police. Not -- it does not appear that they are suspects at this point.

It all happened at a -- really, an immigration center where people were preparing for what is possibly the most important day of their life or what once was one of the most, if not the most, important day of my life, preparing to take the test to become a citizen of the United States.

That's what they were preparing to do when the gunman either was there, showed up, or walked in. Information that we have now confirmed within just moments is that the gunman has been found deceased, dead, in the building. That would most likely raise the number -- or total dead to 13.

I want to bring in some officials who are used to dealing with this kind of situation. Once again, we're in the news center here as we bring you information. This is the CNN NEWSROOM.

And I'm in the area where most of the people who gather this information would normally sit to talk to sources and to talk to affiliates and to bring in the tape and the feeds. I want to be as close as possible to them, so that when the information comes in, when the information comes in, we can share it with you.

Chris, I think I just heard you say, and I will say it to the viewers, we're expecting a 4:30 p.m. news conference now from the mayor of Binghamton, once again, a 4:30 p.m. news conference from the mayor of Binghamton. We're going to be sharing that.

Let me listen to this, just as the information -- and I think you can hear that at home. All right, this is -- Vice President Joe Biden is about to give a statement on the shooting. All right. This is going to be Vice President Joe Biden, who is about to give a statement on the situation in Binghamton. This is going to be what we call a tape turn. In other words, we will get the tape. We will turn it around and we will let you listen to it. So, again, one of the reasons that we wanted to be as close to the source where the news is coming in as possible is to give you that information firsthand.

I want to bring in somebody else. By the way, as soon as we get that Biden tape, we will turn it around.

I want to talk now, if we possibly can, to Chris Voss, former FBI hostage negotiator, as well as Tom Fuentes, retired FBI out of Washington, D.C.

Gentlemen, are you both there?

I'm on the phone. Yes, I'm here. I'm here. Thank you.

Mr. Voss, we will start with you.

Assess the situation here for our viewers, if you would. I know you have a lot of experience with this type of situation.

CHRIS VOSS, FORMER FBI HOSTAGE NEGOTIATOR: It's not that unusual for an angry gunman to come in to a place like this who feels deceived by the process and then ultimately it ends up the way it has. He doesn't even give -- he doesn't give anyone an opportunity to talk him out, to stop the loss of life.

SANCHEZ: I mean, really, as we look at this, it almost seems like police did perhaps everything they do to contain the situation. But beyond containment, it doesn't look like there was much that they could do, is there?

VOSS: Well, once -- of course, once they contain it, though, because of the nature of shootings in the United States over the last 10 or 15 years, they do have the capacity to go in and try to defuse the violence, if it's ongoing, as soon as they arrive. They actually have trained in things called (INAUDIBLE) assault teams, where they can go into the middle of a situation like this (INAUDIBLE)

SANCHEZ: Isn't this whole thing about -- isn't this whole thing, Chris, about communicating?

I mean, you're a hostage negotiator. You know it's about going in there and talking to the suspect, or perhaps, again, de-escalating, talking him down. But you have got to get there early enough to be able to do that, and you also have to establish some kind of communication tie, whether it's verbal, oral, by phone, or actually being close enough to be able to talk to them now person-to-person?

VOSS: Yes, Rick, that's absolutely correct. And they also have to be willing to talk to you. And in many cases, an active shooter like this, or hostage-taker can hear you, but he knows as he begins to talk with you, he gives you the opportunity to talk him out of it.

And that's why often in these cases they won't talk to you at all. SANCHEZ: We're talking to two guys who have had experience with this type of situation.

Tom Fuentes is retired FBI. He's joining us as well.

How soon and how fast can the feds offer assistance to a municipality police department like this one in Binghamton?

TOM FUENTES, FORMER ASSISTANT FBI DIRECTOR: Well, the FBI will offer assistance immediately.

We have an office in Binghamton, part of the Albany, New York, division, to help the police, help their tactical people, their negotiators, the commanders at the scene.

In the beginning you're going to have to determine is it a terrorist act, is it a organized crime, is it gang-related, is it a serial killer, is it someone that's a disturbed individual? And now, even though it appears to be calmed down or contained, the police have to go through every closet, crawl space, under every desk in that building to look for potentially other victims could be hiding, or could be...

SANCHEZ: Hey, Tom, Tom?

FUENTES: Yes.

SANCHEZ: You know how this thing goes.

FUENTES: Sure.

SANCHEZ: We have got breaking news. I am just going to stop you for a minute. I want to get back to you so you can finish your point. But I promised the viewers that I would let them hear from the vice president. He's made a comment on this shooting. Here it is.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOSEPH BIDEN, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Someone entered a rec center where an examination was being given for -- for Americans -- excuse me -- immigrants to become Americans taking their exam, walked in through the back door and allegedly shot and killed up to 12 or 13 people.

(AUDIENCE GASPS)

BIDEN: And I don't have any more details, except I would ask you to keep all those folks in your prayers. This is a prayerful community. And I think it's time that we have got to figure a way to deal with this senseless, senseless violence.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SANCHEZ: There's the vice president. You heard that audible gasp as the vice president made that point. Obviously, there's a lot of shock in our nation today as we watch this story of, once again, a gunman walking into a building, killing 12, possibly 13 people.

Still trying to nail that number down. Either way, at least 12 is the number that we're comfortable reporting to you now at CNN.

Going back to Tom Fuentes, retired FBI, trying to share with us what authorities do at this point, as some of the information is coming out, and that contained -- hold on a moment. I'm going to introduce my -- I'm going to stop myself, interrupt myself, because I'm listening.

Give me that mike, if you would. Or maybe you can hear it from me. Steve, tell us once again what you just reported.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We had a federal source who confirmed to Mary Lynn Ryan, our Southeast bureau chief, that there are now 13 total dead, 12, plus the gunman. The gunman was found with self-inflicted gunshot wounds to the head -- 13 total dead, and five others in local hospitals with gunshot wounds.

SANCHEZ: Thank you so much, thorough and comprehensive. We thank you, Steve Brusk (ph), one of our assignment editors in our national desk area here, bringing us really what is some of the -- what is starting to look, what is starting to look at this point, and, again, to be as specific and as judicious as possible with this, which is the way we try and treat these stories, what is starting to look like what may be the final death toll in this case, 12 to 13.

You heard him say five other people have been taken away. And you also heard him say something we hadn't reported before, that the gunman has been found with a gunshot wound to the head.

Tom Fuentes, given that new information, share with us, sir, what your assessment of the situation is now, former -- as a member -- as a former member of the FBI.

FUENTES: Well, as I mentioned, Rick, securing that building is a top priority right now, make sure that there were no other accomplices, or other victims hiding in another part of that building.

Once that's been determined, that all of the people have been located and removed, then it will be become a massive crime scene. And, of course, the FBI and I'm sure the state police and the city police will be heavily involved in trying to process all parts of that building where there could be evidence located.

Something else that has not been brought up that's going on right now, I'm sure, is the FBI's Office of International Operations will be in touch with many of the embassies in Washington and many of the FBI's overseas offices, because you're going to have citizens from other countries who were here preparing for that text -- test, I should say.

And, as you mentioned, they were in that situation of trying to become U.S. citizens and working toward that. But their loved ones and relatives are watching CNN International right now, wondering about their loved ones in Binghamton. So, right now, that will be a massive effort to work to find those families, identify the victims. As mentioned earlier, attempts to locate a Vietnamese translator or interpreter, that could just as easily have been that a victim was badly injured and they were trying to identify that person and having difficulty communicating.

So, that's an ongoing effort that will continue all day through the night and for several days.

SANCHEZ: It's important to point out that there were members of the Vietnamese community there in Binghamton.

I have mentioned to you several times, and again for those of you who are just now coming home from work, and we're sharing this really terrible Friday afternoon story with you, that as many as 12 to 13 people are now dead in Binghamton, New York, as a result of what is -- can only perhaps aptly be described as a massacre in that area.

It's already having its effect all over the state, all over the country, but perhaps nowhere more than at Binghamton University, right there just outside the city, where several students have been reaching out to us at CNN throughout the course of the day.

Here now, one of the students who sent us this piece of information moments ago. I want you to hear it.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GREG SARAFAN, I-REPORTER: Hi.

As a student at Binghamton University, I definitely was affected by the shooting today. I personally found out about it in the middle of class. But I know many students are having trouble getting to classes today because of the shooting.

The buses for the university are not running through the area of downtown where the shooting is. And that is a large portion of the students that live off-campus.

That's about all the information we know right now.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SANCHEZ: You can almost see a sense of disbelief as he brought this information to us. That was about a half-hour ago when we received that.

Let me tell you who we have, who's going to be taking us through this story, first of all, some of the finest researchers and writers and assignment editors in the business here at CNN. I decided to move away from the set and go to where the news is coming in to. You see all these people working the phones behind me on this row.

This is the national desk, and then beyond them as well. And as they get the information firsthand, you're probably going to hear it as they put the information out to news sources that are affiliated with CNN all over the world. So, I wanted to bring you as close to the information as you possibly can.

Here's what else we're doing to take you through the story. As we look at these pictures out of Binghamton, New York, we have got Tom Fuentes, who is retired FBI who is joining us. Chris Voss, we're using him because he's a former hostage negotiator, and knows how the -- how this process works.

And we're also talking, or bringing in now for the first time, introducing you to Aaron Cohen. He can bring us the angle of what the responsibility is for a SWAT team when they're called into this situation.

So, Aaron, let me go to you. As we watch this situation develop, one of the first calls I know from my own police reporter experience is to get SWAT out there as fast as possible. What's their role?

AARON COHEN, FORMER IDF COUNTERTERRORIST COMMANDO: Well, the role of SWAT is to be able to, you know, support conventional police with special weapons and special tactics. They're highly trained in what's called dynamic entry or rapid response.

But, unfortunately, what we have seen historically with active shooters, starting from Columbine, leading all the way up to Virginia Tech, is that SWAT teams typically in the United States are part-time teams, especially in these smaller towns.

So, really, the SWAT responsibility has been pushed farther and farther onto the patrol, the first-responders. So, they have begun to increase their tactical capabilities by having specialized SWAT equipment in their vehicles to be able to respond to this active- shooter threat.

And, so far, I think what we have seen so far is that this was an active-shooter threat, meaning that it's been consistent with a specific person who's gone to a specific place for a specific reason, and then taking his own life.

So, the responsibility and the onus has been put on these patrol guys to be able to get there, immediately getting into the facility and be able to go directly to the threat in order to stop him from shooting.

SANCHEZ: Aaron Cohen with an assessment of what SWAT needs to do, and apparently has done in this situation in Binghamton, New York.

Let's take that information over to Chris Voss.

As a former FBI negotiator, what's the communication like between the negotiator and the tactical unit, SWAT unit that is on location when they arrive?

Have we lost Chris? Chris, I'm going to you one more shot, but it's sounding like your mike is going out there, Chris Voss, former hostage negotiator.

Tom Fuentes, why don't you give that a crack? FUENTES: OK.

Rick, in this situation, the snipers will be reporting back to a sniper coordinator in the command post. The SWAT individuals, the teams will be reporting back to their coordinator. And these coordinators will be relaying real-time information to the on-scene commander. In this case, it would be the chief of police. It could be the special agent in charge of the FBI or the superintendent of the state police.

And so they are trying to give as much information as quickly as possible, so that the commanders can determine what the situation is, whether life is at risk at the moment, and whether to make a decision to affect the dynamic entry, as was mentioned.

SANCHEZ: I would imagine motive comes into play here.

Let me bring Chris Voss back. I'm told we lost him momentarily, but he's back with us now.

How do you assess, how do you figure out what the person's really got in his head, what he's thinking about, what his -- what could possibly be forcing him to do this, and why is that so important?

VOSS: You're looking for the background of the individual and the location that he selected to start with (INAUDIBLE) pool of information about what's going on.

Unfortunately, coming to a location like this on a shooting like this, from the very beginning, you have already got a lot of varied indicators of extremely high threat levels.

So, you start with that from the beginning, assuming that he's got some sort of a grievance, and hoping to talk to with him about it at the first opportunity that you get.

SANCHEZ: We want to let our viewers know that we're hoping to get some fresh information from authorities there in Binghamton.

There are still some questions as to exactly what the number is, whether it's, well, possibly actually 12, 13, maybe even 14. It's just a number at this point. What is important is, at least 12 people have been confirmed dead. Five people have been taken to the hospital.

And, to be clear, we have been able to nail down that the gunman has also been found dead with a gunshot wound to the head in the building. We are also told that all those who were injured were at a center, an immigration center.

And I think you will see that picture there, as we filter through some of these edited and non-edited pieces of video that we're going to be showing you. This is Binghamton, New York. It's close to the city center. That's the American Civic Association.

It's a building that was being used for people who were preparing to become American citizens. In other words, they were studying for their exam, which constitutes several questions, taking them through the branches of government, how the government of the United States works, in expectation that they would become citizens of the United States, most of them, we understand, from the Vietnamese community there in Binghamton.

Now looking at the building itself, in what is a Google Earth map that we prepared earlier in the day, so you could see what the area looks like. Again, keep in mind as you look at this picture that this is old video that was taken before this incident.

But it gives you an idea of what the structure is, what the area is, and what's around it. As you can see, we're -- this is obviously not a remote location.

Neil St. Clair with News 10 Now, I want you to watch this report. I'm being told by Chris Holm (ph), my producer, that this report was just filed moments ago. And we want to turn it around and share it with you.

Go ahead, Rog. Take this, if you can.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

NEIL ST. CLAIR, NEWS 10 NOW REPORTER: Have you been to the Civic Association before? Are you familiar with that? And can you kind of describe to me what goes on there?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, it's a place where immigrants come in, you know, to get taught, you know, where they can get their green cards, et cetera, et cetera. And not only that. Like normal people who would like to get a passport picture, you can go over there and take it. And this is the first time like this ever took place. And it's such a small town.

ST. CLAIR: So, when you heard exactly what was going on, you obviously evacuated, got all your people out of there. Tell me, what kind of business do you own, and were you nervous for your people and for your business in general, and just for the town and the sake of the town as well?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh, yes, sir, I was. Yes, sir.

When they asked us to evacuate, we did. So, and everybody, you know, got everybody out safe. And, yes, we own a barbershop right here around the corner. It's Blade & Cuts (ph) barbershop. And it was kind of frightening, honestly. It was really kind of frightening.

ST. CLAIR: Now, have you asked police if you can go back into your shop? Or, at the moment, are they still telling you to stay away from the area?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Right now, they're clearing up the area. To my knowledge, that the gunman, he took his own life, to my knowledge. This is what they're saying. But, right now, they're clearing out the streets. And, yes, it is OK for us to go back in. ST. CLAIR: And last question I will ask is, you just described for us your emotions right now. You said you were scared initially. But what are you feeling? Are you upset? Are you devastated? Tell me, what is going through your head?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Right now, it's definitely scary, because, I mean, by us owning a barbershop, and we have different types of people come in daily, and half, we don't know. Some, we do know. And it is scary. And, you know, and for a town like this, and something like that to happen up here, yes, I would be frightened, very frightened, not alongside myself, but alongside my co-workers.

ST. CLAIR: All right. Well, thank you so much. We really do appreciate your time.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Thank you.

ST. CLAIR: All right, as you can see, local business owners obviously still reacting. They're still being kept out of their businesses at the moment.

But they are still frightened and still upset and wondering, you know, what's next for themselves, for their business, and for the town of Binghamton. Obviously, this is a small town. A lot of people here are going to be very closely and acutely affected by this. And we will obviously be hearing stories about this, and probably horror stories, unfortunately, for many, many months.

But, hopefully, there will be some sort of happy conclusion, although that seems unlikely, as you said, with 13 dead and at least several more wounded.

We will be heading over to the press conference very shortly to bring you hopefully some much needed updates and let you know exactly what's going on.

But, for right now, again, to confirm, American Civic Association, 13 dead, several more wounded. Police are clearing the area now. And we will bring you the latest as it becomes available to us -- so, for now, back to you.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SANCHEZ: All right. Once again, as we -- as we get those reports from our affiliates in Binghamton, we're going to turn them around and share them with you. Obviously, you're going to notice that, from time to time, the information is -- you know, changes a little bit.

So, once again, for the sake of clarity, let me give you the information that we have. It's very much looking like there's going to be 13 people dead. It does appear, at this point, that that will likely include the gunman. The gunman has been confirmed by CNN to have been found in the building with a gunshot wound to the head. Five other people have been taken to the hospital. We talked to hospital officials here. You heard from them if you were with us about 20 minutes ago, that at least two of them are in surgery as we speak, both of them with gunshot wounds.

And we're just now starting to get some new information on the gunman himself.

I'm just going to lean back here, because as the information comes in -- Stephanie, tell us once again, if you would, what did we just learn about the gunman?

Any new information?

STEPHANIE: Yes. A law enforcement source says that the gunman had I.D. On him. And he was 42 years old and from Upstate New York.

SANCHEZ: Forty-two years old from Upstate New York?

STEPHANIE: They will not release his name.

SANCHEZ: Nothing else on him right now?

STEPHANIE: That's it.

SANCHEZ: All right. Thanks so much.

So, obviously, as we try and get -- here you go, guys. Obviously, as we try and get motive in this case, it is -- it is, you know, one of the things that police are going to try and figure out as soon as possible. We may be able to get a sense of that as we move into some of the news conferences that we're probably going to be getting from some of the police officials here.

Let me bring -- let me bring Tom Fuentes back into the conversation.

Tom Fuentes, retired FBI.

What will we expect, in terms of information released to us, in these preliminary rounds of discussions with the media, that both the FBI -- your friends up there, your associates -- and some of the local police will be willing to share?

TOM FUENTES, FORMER ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, FBI: Well, the immediate information will be that it is now safe at the location, that there are no other shooters out there, that everything has been done that's possible to save lives and -- and bring the victims to medical facilities.

SANCHEZ: Does that mean -- let me just stop you for a moment.

Does that mean at this point, then, because we haven't been hearing from them, that they're still trying to either secure the location or that they're -- they're still somewhat tenuous...

FUENTES: Yes.

SANCHEZ: ...and not -- not willing to do that? FUENTES: The reason this is taking so much time is, if you can imagine the situation where, if there's possibly another shooter hiding in that building with a weapon, the police just can't fling doors open and run around inside there. They have to be very methodical, very safe as they go closet by closet, room by room -- ventilation ducts, crawl spaces, any possible place where someone else who is a threat could be hiding.

So that has to be determined first. As I mentioned, there could be victims hiding who don't know yet that it's safe to come out. So they...

SANCHEZ: Wow!

FUENTES: They have to try to locate victims, as well. So the police will say -- when they believe that they've searched every inch of that building and that the premises are secure. And then what will happen after that is the building will then become CSI Binghamton. And -- and all of the law enforcement evidence response teams will be then brought in to gather evidence at the crime scene.

SANCHEZ: Well, you know, to Tom's point -- Aaron, let me take it over to you.

Given the fact that they now have to go through there and try and get their own information, the fact that the gunman has killed himself doesn't help them, because that means they probably -- obviously, there's some level of speculation here. But they probably weren't able to garner as much information from them as they would have liked to, right?

COHEN: Well, yes. The fact that the gunman has taken his life means, obviously, they're not going to be able to question him. But...

SANCHEZ: So if there's...

(CROSSTALK)

SANCHEZ: In other words, if he was -- to be even maybe a little more clearer.

In other words, if he was working with an accomplice, they wouldn't know, so they have to now check for themselves to see if there was perhaps an accomplice in the building?

COHEN: They need to -- that's what they are doing right now. And that's what -- and that's what your other associate just said from the FBI. What they're right now is what's considered a slow and deliberate search. You've got special weapons and tactics teams inside that building sweeping every hole, anywhere where there could be a gun, anywhere where there could be another person hiding -- from innocents to a potential other gunman or an accomplice. And it's a very slow, methodical process.

Typically, there's canine involved because the dogs have a very high sense of smell, which allows them to pick up other factors that humans can't.

So this is really a very meticulous sweeping process that could take some time. So I don't think that we're going to, you know, be in a situation where there's going to be too much information, at least until all of that sweeping is cleared and law enforcement can guarantee that everybody has been brought out of the building, including the gunman, any...

SANCHEZ: How often...

COHEN: ...any (INAUDIBLE)...

SANCHEZ: How often, I'm just curious, because I know that you've done this in the past, how often do you find victims hiding in closets or in other locations, perhaps in shock?

COHEN: Well, I mean, in a situation like this, you know, I can tell you, that people will hide in places where they're not even supposed to be able to fit into. You'll do anything to protect your life, you know, especially when you (INAUDIBLE)...

SANCHEZ: And you've seen that...

COHEN: (INAUDIBLE)...

SANCHEZ: And you've seen that yourself when you do these sweeps?

COHEN: Well, I know for -- I know for a fact, in Israel, when we're doing a sweep after a terrorist attack, you know, Israelis are very, very aggressive when it comes to protecting themselves. And they'll jump out windows, throw things, throw rocks if they have to, crawl into ducts, go into closets, open up floorboards, wherever they can go. So you want to be very careful that there's no one hiding so you don't accidentally engage in somebody who could potentially be innocent, as well.

SANCHEZ: Let me just go over -- thanks so much. Hang with us, if you would, Aaron.

We've got more information coming in to us here in the CNN NEWSROOM.

Let me -- let me just go over some of the wires just to be clear on the officials are saying -- an official telling CNN that 13 are dead in this Civic Association building that we've talked about. Five people are wounded -- once again, confirming what we've been reporting to you.

The information stays the same, that a lone gunman walked into the Immigration Services in Binghamton. He's been found dead with a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.

So one other piece of information that we had already shared with you, but it's now clearing the wires at CNN -- we got it as it was coming in, so that is that he was carrying identification, as Stephanie just reported a few minutes ago, and that he was 42 years old.

I'm told now we have an opportunity to take you to someone who lives across the street from where this has happened and is still going on.

Pennie Kerber is good enough to join us.

Pennie, are you there?

PENNIE KERBER, LIVES NEARBY: Yes, I am.

SANCHEZ: My goodness.

Thank you for taking the time to talk to us.

I know this has been a very difficult day for.

Tell us as best you can what you have seen play out today in your neighborhood.

KERBER: Well, I only have windows on my second floor, just facing the front. And my son called me and alerted me to something going on over there. And when I looked out, the place was totally surrounded with police cars and policemen all over the place with rifles, which was a little disconcerting, to say the least.

But I tried to stay away from the windows as much as I could because I thought with that many rifles out, I'd better not be stupid here. And so every once in a while, I'll take a look out and see. It's still blocked off. The whole area is blocked off.

They've opened the doors -- you know, they have -- most of the police have gone. I mean there's a lot of them still here. But they've -- they've -- what do you call that, taped off the front, you know, crime scene tape.

SANCHEZ: Right. The perimeter tape that they often put up in these situations.

KERBER: Yes. And they're still going in and out of the building. And I assume it's because they want to double check, you know, and make sure.

But I believe -- actually, I saw one person being taken out on a gurney earlier today. But like I say, I don't really look out the window that much because of security. But I -- I don't know anything about the ones that are in there. You know, they're saying 13 people -- I can't and -- no one has gone out...

SANCHEZ: So...

KERBER: And no one...

SANCHEZ: So did...

KERBER: Go ahead. SANCHEZ: Just to be clear, let me help you out here, as you can try and help us out.

When the incident occurred, which I believe was some time about 10:30 your time, is that correct?

KERBER: Yes.

SANCHEZ: Did you -- where were you?

What did you hear?

And when were you first informed that something of this magnitude had happened?

KERBER: I heard absolutely nothing -- not even the police coming, the fire engines going, nothing.

SANCHEZ: And you were home?

KERBER: And I was home. I've been home all day. I was upstairs.

SANCHEZ: That's amazing.

And how far are you from the actual building?

KERBER: Oh, probably less than 200 feet.

SANCHEZ: A stone's throw.

KERBER: Yes. But you see, there's a brick building or a big cement building. And I'm a brick building. And because of that, depending on where they were in the building shooting, I probably wouldn't have heard it. And I wouldn't have heard the commotion either, because, well, we have very secured windows in this...

SANCHEZ: Right.

KERBER: We're in a renovated old firehouse where everything is fairly new. And it's like a three pane. You can't hear too much through it.

SANCHEZ: I understand that.

Do this for us, if you could, while we have you here and you seem to be the person who knows most about this particular locale. Tell us about this building. Tell us what you normally see as far as people going in and out of it and whether there's been any kind of incident like this ever in the past.

KERBER: No. We've only been here six years, but I've never, ever heard anything, you know, out of the ordinary across the street. There's been -- there's a lot of foot traffic to it. There's a lot of foreigners that are coming in. They're coming in to learn English or how to do their citizenship or whatever. And they have social functions there. And sometimes it gets a little rowdy, you know, if they're having a party, but nothing out of the ordinary.

It's just been a normal building, you know, that occupies most functions -- mostly for people who are from not in this area or this country.

SANCHEZ: Is this particular area -- has this area ever been characterized by anyone as being a dangerous area?

KERBER: No. No. Not at all.

SANCHEZ: So it's a city center, one in basically a place that has been probably busy, but for the most part, without incident?

KERBER: No. I mean we have, you know, we have the problems like everybody does, with the -- maybe drugs or something going on occasion, you know. But nothing out of the ordinary. No. No. We're -- it's a pretty quiet little town, a nice little town.

SANCHEZ: Pennie, you've been a delight to talk to you.

KERBER: OK.

SANCHEZ: Thanks so much. I mean I know it's an intrusion on us to take time to talk to you.

KERBER: No problem.

SANCHEZ: We really -- we really do appreciate it.

KERBER: OK.

SANCHEZ: Pennie Kerber. Again, a neighbor, as she described, just 200 feet away from the location where this happened.

Chris Voss is back with us.

He's in our Washington studio.

He's a former FBI hostage negotiator.

Chris, before I go to you, let me just do a reset here.

It's now, oh, 39 minutes after the hour. There's a good possibility that many of you are coming home, turning us on to watch our usual national conversation where we talk about all the stories taking place in the -- on the air.

And instead, today, we are focusing on one story and one story alone. Thirteen people killed in Binghamton, New York. A lone gunman appears to have walked into a building where people were preparing to become citizens of the United States and he was killed that -- has killed that many people. We also learned now that he has, in fact, also taken his own life.

All we know about him is that he's 42 years old. Police say they know that because he found his identification. Beyond that, they're not releasing any new information. But we are expecting a news conference at any moment now, where police will be sharing more information. If it doesn't happen in the next 20 minutes, it most definitely will during our 4:00 hour.

Back to Chris Voss.

Chris, does it surprise you that someone who lived only 200 feet away would not have heard a thing?

VOSS: No, Rick. It's not that much of a surprise at all. I mean these people come in, it goes on, it takes place indoors. Gunshots, in real life, don't sound like the way that they do in the movies. In real life, they're actually quiet pops. Often you don't know exactly what it was. So it's quite easy for someone fairly close by to have not have heard it initially.

SANCHEZ: In cases like this, how soon do authorities respond and what does it usually take?

Is it usually a matter of -- I mean very few of us have ever experienced or been near a situation with this men -- where this much gunfire is used. And you can only imagine, to kill 13 people, just how loud, how explosive and how many rounds he must have gotten off.

Can you give us any sense of that?

VOSS: Well, authorities -- 911 calls obviously are -- are taking place immediately. As soon as they find out about it, they're formulating a response and they're doing what they can to actually respond to it before they're actually physically there. They'll be calling different -- different people that are there at the location to find out the information that's going on. They'll be gathering -- gathering information as to where the safest place may be to set up a point to try to negotiate from is. They'll try to get as close as they can and -- and make some sort of vocal contact with the shooter, if nothing else, to try to engage him in some sort of a dialog, in the event that they can -- can begin to contain it verbally and -- and stop the violence while it's still going on.

SANCHEZ: How troubling is it that they seemed to have a real tough time locating someone who could serve as a translator so that officials could communicate with him?

VOSS: Well, it's the unfortunate nature of how many languages there are, how many people that there are. It's very difficult to -- to have people on standby with the enormous number of possibilities in -- in any given community.

SANCHEZ: Well, not to be terribly critical, but, you know, if you're in a community where we know that there are people studying for -- for their citizenship and you know you have a particular community, not just an Asian community, but you happen to know that there are Vietnamese, wouldn't it be essential to have a translator on staff, or at least nearby, that one can immediately go to?

VOSS: Well, yes, ideally, you'd really like for that to happen. And they preposition as many of -- as many of these assets, as much of this planning, as many of these people as they possibly can.

It's just that the enormity of the task, even -- even in a predictable situation like an Asian community, there are many different dialects...

SANCHEZ: Yes.

VOSS: There are very many different people. It's -- it's -- they prepare as much as they can, believe me.

SANCHEZ: Well, no, I understand. And, look, the last thing we want to be is be hyper critical at this point. These are questions that I feel it's important to ask, as we try and filter through some of this information.

Let me do this for you. Let me take you to some of the pictures, once again, for some of you who've been joining us of late.

Let's go with the these pictures of full -- thank you so much, Roger, for knowing what I was going to ask even before I had a chance to ask it.

All right. This is the scene that we're looking at now. Again, this is in Binghamton, New York -- a medium-sized city, a secondary city, as cities go in the United States. That's the scene. People reacting as soon as they found out what was going on.

People had originally been told to go to the scene, perhaps, if they had to pick up loved ones. Obviously, that was changed immediately. That's one of the very first pictures we saw -- of someone actually being taken out who was injured.

Fleshing that out for you, five people injured in all. Two of them have been taken to the hospital, where they're undergoing surgery right now from gunshot wounds.

That's police as they gather in the area. Again, you see some of the ambulances coming and going as the scene developed now, several hours ago.

Authorities are still on the scene. That's part of the police force. SWAT are inside. Uniformed officers are outside -- obviously, taking cover. At this point, it's still not known exactly how many people were in the building or how many suspects were there.

In fact, as you -- as these pictures were taken, they still didn't know whether the suspect had either taken his own life or fled.

Hostage negotiators were on the scene. And there you see some of the SWAT individuals who had arrived after setting up a perimeter outside. I think here in this shot you'll see some of the police detectives, who often serve as original negotiators until the FBI guys show up, who then take over.

Here is one of the SWAT officials walking into the building, taking cover. One of the first things you do after setting up a perimeter, from my own experience in following these in South Florida for many years, is you have every single part of the building covered so that there could be no possible escape. And you also want to be able to help the people as they're taking off from the building. By that, I mean victims who may be able to escape.

It's often very difficult, at this point, to be able to make sure you know who they are, so you don't confuse a victim with a suspect. That is why, again, other information that we've shared with you earlier today that we're now able to nail down, is that two people were taken away. Two people were taken away. Originally it was reported as people taken into custody. Now we're learning they were not taken into custody. They were simply taken away at the time because police wanted to clarify who they were and take them away for their own protection.

So there you have it -- the scene as it's been unfolding for the last several hours.

As we get more information, we're going to be sharing it with you. And, obviously, one of the things that we're going to do is we're going to be tapping into one of these news conferences that we're going to get from some of the officials there in Binghamton, New York.

Really, a shocking story -- a massacre in Binghamton, New York, as America gets ready to start the weekend. Obviously, some dismal scenes that are coming out of there.

We're joined by several officials who are going to be talking -- taking us through this. We're also sharing with you what some of the reaction is.

The president of the United States is obviously not in the country. He has been in France today. No comment from the White House specifically. But in his place, the vice president of the United States, Vice President Biden has made a comment. We're going to see if we can queue that up for you once again so you can hear the vice president's comment when he had been first informed of what has happened.

And what's interesting is -- and, Chris, let me know when that's ready, by the way.

As he makes the announcement in this room in Washington, you almost hear a guffaw in the background, as people come to grips with the fact that there had been another huge shooting/massacre in the United States.

We're going to -- we're going to bring you that sound from the vice president of the United States in just a moment.

Here, by the way, speaking of pictures, is one of the emergency services medical units that also came to the scene early and then buses that were brought in case many people had to be transported en masse. We have that now.

Here now, President -- Vice President Joe Biden with the first official Washington reaction to this incident.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOSEPH BIDEN, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: In Binghamton, someone entered a rec center where an examination was being given for American -- excuse me -- immigrants to become Americans, taking their exam. He walked in through the back door and allegedly shot and killed up to 12 or 13 people. And -- and I don't have any more details, excerpt I would I'd ask you to keep all those folks in your prayers. This is a prayerful community. And I think it's time that we -- we've got to figure a way to deal with this senseless, senseless violence.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SANCHEZ: Obviously, Vice President Biden, the former senator from Delaware, not far from the area where this took place, certainly knows, regionally speaking at least, the -- the tone of what the feeling is for some of the people in that area, as I'm sure we'll be hearing from other officials.

By the way, speaking of that, we are told that some New York officials will be heading to the scene. We've got statements from Governor Paterson and from several Congressmen in the area. We're expecting a news briefing from officials there in Binghamton. We'll share that with you.

And we plan to get more information from both of the CNN affiliates on the scene.

We're going to take a quick break, monitor what's going on and come back with more information.

I'm Rick Sanchez.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SANCHEZ: Welcome back.

This is a breaking news story that we've been following now for the better part of two-and-a-half hours. Thirteen people have been killed in Binghamton, New York. We're getting information now that the gunman has also taken his own life. He has been -- and we at CNN have confirmed that he was found inside the building with a gunshot wound to the head.

Swat, FBI still on the scene. Several officials from Washington also headed to the scene.

The reason we're showing this building in particular is this is where it happened. This is where people were preparing for their citizenship -- getting ready to become American citizens.

We do believe that they were Vietnamese-Americans who were preparing for this when the incident took place.

We have a report coming into us now from Bill Carey. Bill Carey, News 10 Now, filed this report just moments ago.

Here it is.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, COURTESY NEWS 10 NOW)

BILL CAREY, SENIOR REPORTER, NEWS 10 NOW: Well, as you know from the past few hours of coverage, what the basic story here has been at the Ameri -- American Civic Association, a group that helps to service the needs of immigrants here in the Binghamton area.

Just about 10:00 this morning, according to some reports, a young man somehow blocked the rear doors of the building, then proceeded into the front doors of the building and began shooting. We don't know how many weapons he was armed with. We're hoping to hear more about that from the news conference at 4:00 with -- with Mayor Ryan.

We saw some people removed from here to the Wilson Medical Center, our Lady of Lords Hospital. And there was a game of numbers being played through much of the day. And now many of these numbers are still not the firmest.

But what we understand at this point is that the death toll in this shooting is put at 13. We understand the shooter involved in this may be among those 13 dead. Again, we're waiting for confirmation of much of this information at the 4:00 news conference.

We can look down at the scene right now. You can see a number of police officers and others still at that scene. The high school, which had been in a lockdown earlier today because of the situation involving the shooter and the situation at the American Civic Association, that high school has now been opened. The students have been allowed to return home. A number of other buildings also under a lockdown in the area. They are slowly coming back to normal as the situation subsides.

Police will be here for some time collecting some of the evidence of just what's gone on here over the past five or so hours.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SANCHEZ: One minor point of clarification. I mentioned a while ago that the vice president of the United States had made that comment from Washington, D.C. I misspoke. The vice president was in New York at the time that he made that -- that comment that caused that reaction, as you saw in the crowd.

Our Susan Candiotti was one of the first reporters dispatched to the scene.

CNN's Susan Candiotti, we've just received information over here at the National Desk that she's arrived on the scene -- Stephanie, you've been in contact with some of our crews out there.

What is Susan reporting from the scene?

STEPHANIE: Yes, Rick. Susan has just told us that a single law enforcement source has told her that a search warrant has been obtained to search the shooter's home and that that home is in Binghamton, New York.

SANCHEZ: So they are going to search his home. But we still are not releasing his identity?

STEPHANIE: That's correct. We do have a name, but we're doing some more checking on it before we release the name that we've heard.

SANCHEZ: All right. Thanks so much, Stephanie.

We appreciate that.

So the information that we're getting now is that the -- the 42- year-old man, the man who is the gunman in this case, who has killed at least 12 other people and then taken his own life, has a residence there in Binghamton, New York and that police have now obtained a search warrant to search -- to look for any other information there.

I would imagine, Tom Fuentes, are you still with us?

Tom Fuentes?

Aaron -- Tom, this is part of the process for looking for a motive or to try and create, really, a profile of who this person is right?

FUENTES: That's correct, Rick. They'll be trying to talk with family members, friends, associates to determine if the individual was having personal problems of some kind or had a history of -- of mental problems in the past and trying to determine what triggered the event -- what caused him to want to do this.

Also, as far as the name of the individual, the police will be very cautious with that; also to safeguard and protect the family. You know, this -- this shooter...

SANCHEZ: Well, I'll just...

FUENTES: ...has possibly a wife and children and they'll want to make sure that they're safe from potential retaliation.

SANCHEZ: I'll tell you what, I have the name right here. I'm actually looking at his name. We, as a network, have decided that we're not going to release the name until we, you know, felt real comfortable nailing this down. But there's every reason to believe that this is probably the person.

How soon were they able to get that identification, get all the information nailed down and then head over to the house?

And who are they talking to when they get there?

FUENTES: Well, they'll talk to whoever is there and determine if he is a family -- parents, spouse, children -- anybody who may be there. And, again, they're going to be concerned to get information from them, get their assistance. It will be traumatic for them, as well. There will be tremendous guilt and shame associated with this on their part. And -- and we'll be concerned for their safety, as well.

And, in addition, they will have to execute a search warrant at that residence and look for other indications that go to -- to motive in this case. There may be other weapons. There may have been explosives. There may be literature...

SANCHEZ: Who's taking -- who's -- Tom, I'm just curious, as I hear you speaking.

Who's taken the lead in this case now?

Is it back in the hands of the local police officers or do the Feds kind of -- to use a term I've heard before in law enforcement -- big foot this?

FUENTES: No. I spoke to FBI headquarters. This was always under the command of the Binghamton Police Department. The FBI offered every possible assistance, as we would do in a case like this. But, again, absent an indication that it was a terrorist act or -- or motivated by organized crime or some other area which would give federal jurisdiction, that, from the beginning, in this case, it was treated as a local law enforcement matter. And all the other agencies, including the FBI, have been there to give assistance to Binghamton police.

SANCHEZ: I'm listening to my colleague, Steve Brusk, reporting to us now that we had told you -- Steve, you're on the phone.

Can I interrupt for just a moment?

STEVE BRUSK: Sure.

SANCHEZ: You just reported that there's a new piece of information, apparently, about that lockdown situation?

BRUSK: Yes. They had a number of schools in the vicinity of the shooting -- and especially the high school that was very close by. They have now allowed those students to go home. The lockdown is over, meaning the situation is over. And all the kids in that district are being allowed to go home now.

SANCHEZ: That's great news.

Thanks so much, Steve, for being on top of that for us.

So there you have it. Some -- some of the folks who were involved in the -- in the original release by police, obviously, they put everything around there on lockdown. They contained the area in there. They set up a perimeter. Oftentimes, reporters complain that the perimeter is bigger than they want it to be, because they want to be close to the information. But it's obviously something that they need to do.

And now we're being told that the lockdown is finished. That means parents can now go -- so those of you in Binghamton, New York, it means you can now go to the schools and safely pick up your children.

I'm going to hand things over now to Wolf Blitzer.

He's standing by in Washington, D.C. With "THE SITUATION ROOM" and more of our coverage -- Wolf, of to you.

BLITZER: Thanks very much, Rick.

Happening now, we're continuing the breaking news -- a brutal attack of innocent people. That's what the New York governor says after a gunman ignites a shooting spree, killing many and taking others hostage.