ABC News: Gunman Kills 13, Wounds 26 at Binghamton Aid Group for Immigrants As many as 13 people have been shot dead and another 26 wounded in a shooting rampage inside an upstate New York civic association building that caters to immigrants, according to federal and state authorities.
According to multiple state law enforcement officials, the gunman entered the one-story American Civic Association in downtown Binghamton about 10 a.m. today and began a shooting spree.
A senior law enforcement official told ABC News that 13 people were shot dead and 26 wounded.
Others were believed to be held inside the building as hostages.
The suspect was described as an Asian male in his 20s, between 5-foot-8 and 6 feet tall, wearing a bright green nylon jacket and dark-rimmed glasses.
Officials said the gunman backed his car up to the rear door of the building to block any escape before he opened fire.
One of the first sights that greeted police officers when they entered the American Civic Association, an organization that helps immigrants, was a receptionist who had been shot in the head, police said.
(CNN) -- Authorities are at the scene of a building in Binghamton, New York, where there are "multiple" shooting victims and hostages are being held, a county spokesman said.
Broome County Director of Emergency Services Brett Chellis said there is an "active" shooting situation at the American Civic Association, and that several law enforcement agencies are at the scene.
Chellis did not provide numbers of victims or hostages, and had no further details.
The local newspaper, the Press & Sun-Bulletin, said on its Web site that at least four people were shot and 41 people had been taken hostage. The newspaper reported that Binghamton Mayor Matthew Ryan, who was at the scene, said there was a hostage situation and said the shooter had a high-powered rifle.
FBI spokesman Richard Kolko said the FBI is sending hostage negotiators and an evidence response team to the scene.
The newspaper said the incident began around 10:30 a.m. ET. Nearby apartments were being evacuated and Binghamton High School is on lockdown, it said. Don't Miss
"Within minutes [the situation] turned into one just flooded with police," Bob Joseph, news director of WNBF Radio, told CNN.
The American Civic Association helps immigrants and refugees with a number of issues, including personal counseling, resettlement, citizenship and reunification, and provides interpreters and translators, according to a United Way of Broome County Web site, which is affiliated with the association.
Binghamton is about 140 miles northwest of New York City.
Mail Online:13 'dead' and 41 hostage after gunman opens fire in sleepy American town
A gunman opened fire in an immigration centre in a sleepy American town killing as many as 13, according to reports tonight.
Another 41 people are still being held hostage inside the building, an immigration centre in Binghampton, New York state.
Witnesses described the gunman, who was said to be Asian and in his 20s, parking his car at the rear of the centre, walking inside and then firing indiscriminately.
It was around 10.30am local time and many dozens of people were attending the site for English classes as well as citizenship sessions.
Carnage: Emergency services remove a person on a stretcher from the scene
'A number of people are dead,' Binghamton Police Captain Alex Minor told a local newspaper while radio station WNBF reported 13 had been killed.
Around 36 people were reportedly cowering in a boiler room while 15 others had taken shelter in cupboards around the building.
There were reports that 20 had been released though the FBI were sending hostage negotiators to the scene.
At least four were carried out of the building on stretchers and taken to hospital. One was described as critical.
A spokeswoman at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Binghamton confirmed that a student from Binghamton University was being treated at the emergency room.
Under siege: A gunman has taken dozens of hostages at the American Civic Association, in Binghampton, New York State
Linda Miller said she didn't know the nature of the injuries.
'We're on full alert anticipating we're going to get additional casualties,' she said.
Emergency services were in contact with some people inside by phone, WBNG-TV reported.
Binghampton Mayor Matthew Ryan told a local paper that the gunman had a high-powered rifle.
Police and ambulances have surrounded the building and neighbouring apartments have been evacuated.
The American Civic Association describes itself as helping immigrants and refugees with counseling, resettlement, citizenship, family reunification and translators.
It also intervenes with emergencies, including fighting, hunger and homelessness, according to information from the association's website.
