Virginia Beach: 11 Killed in mass shooting inside government building, 6 injured

At least eleven people were killed and six others injured in a mass shooting at a government building in the US state of Virginia on Friday. The identities of the 11 people killed were not released by authorities.The building where the shooting took place in Virginia Beach, a city on the east coast of the US about 200 miles (320 kilometres) southeast of Washington, housed the city's public works and utilities offices.

The gunman, a long time public utilities employee, was also killed after trading fire with responding officers, police chief James Cervera told a news conference on Friday.

The shooting happened just after 4 pm (local time), when the gunman entered one of the buildings at the Virginia Beach municipal complex and "immediately began to indiscriminately fire on all of the victims," Cervera said.

The wounded included a police officer, who was saved by his bulletproof vest.

A White House spokesman said President Trump had been briefed about the shooting.

According to New York Times report, all over Virginia Beach, residents were trying to process such horror on what had been the close to a normal week. “It is an awful, awful day for our wonderful city,” said Will Sessoms, the former mayor of Virginia Beach, who retired last year. “We will get through it. We will get through it.”

Virginia Senator Tim Kaine said on Twitter he was "devastated to learn of the tragic shooting tonight in Virginia Beach". "My heart is with everyone who lost a loved one, and I'm praying for a swift recovery for all those who have been injured," he said.

Virginia governor Ralph Northam described the incident as a "tragic day" for the city and the state. "My heart breaks for the victims of this devastating shooting, their families, and all who loved them," he said on Twitter. "I am on my way to Virginia Beach now and will be there within the hour."