2019 Virginia Beach shooting#Perpetrator

{{Infobox civilian attack

| image = link=

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| title = 2019 Virginia Beach shooting

| location = Virginia Beach, Virginia, U.S.

| target = Government employees and contractor

| coordinates = {{coord|36.7509|-76.0575|type:event_region:US-VA|display=inline,title}}

| date = {{start date and age|2019|05|31}}

| time-begin = 4:08

| time-end = 4:44 p.m.{{Cite web|url=https://pilotonline.com/news/local/virginia-beach-mass-shooting/article_e15ea290-853f-11e9-aa50-93751bba3c3b.html|title=Gunman emailed resignation hours before killing 12 people in Virginia Beach's deadliest shooting|first=Peter|last=Coutu|website=Virginian-Pilot|access-date=June 6, 2019|archive-date=July 24, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190724174312/https://pilotonline.com/news/local/virginia-beach-mass-shooting/article_e15ea290-853f-11e9-aa50-93751bba3c3b.html|url-status=dead}}

| timezone = EDT (UTC−4

| type = Workplace shooting, mass shooting, mass murder

| fatalities = 13 (including the perpetrator)

| injuries = 4

| perp = DeWayne Antonio Craddock (born DeWayne Antonio Hamilton)

| motive = Unknown

| weapons = * H&K USP Compact Tactical .45-caliber pistol equipped with a suppressor

Glock 21 .45-caliber pistol (unused){{Cite web|url=https://www.vbgov.com/government/departments/city-auditors-office/Documents/Hillard%20Heintze%20Final%20Report%20for%20Virginia%20Beach%2011-13-2019.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220219205622/https://www.vbgov.com/government/departments/city-auditors-office/Documents/Hillard%20Heintze%20Final%20Report%20for%20Virginia%20Beach%2011-13-2019.pdf|archive-date=February 19, 2022|title=An Independent Review of the Tragic Events of May 31, 2019|website=www.vbgov.com}}

}}

On May 31, 2019, a mass shooting occurred at a municipal building in the Princess Anne area of Virginia Beach, Virginia. The gunman, DeWayne Craddock, who was a disgruntled city employee, fatally shot 12 people and wounded four others before he was killed by responding police officers. It is the second-deadliest workplace shooting in U.S. history after the 1986 Edmond post office shooting and the deadliest mass shooting in Virginia since the 2007 Virginia Tech shooting.

Shooting

The perpetrator fatally shot a person in a car in the parking lot of Building 2 of the Virginia Beach Municipal Center and one person on the steps before entering the building and shooting people on all three floors. The building housed the city's public works, utilities, and planning departments in an open-government facility with no additional security to enter but security passes required for accessing employee areas and conference rooms.{{Cite web |last=Finley |first=Ben |date=May 31, 2019 |title='Today is Virginia Beach's darkest hour:' 12 killed in shooting at municipal complex; assailant dead |url=https://www.richmond.com/news/virginia/updated-at-least-dead-six-hospitalized-after-shooting-at-virginia/article_6c782e64-0652-5a0f-bc2c-b965b0dd32ad.html |access-date=May 31, 2019 |website=Richmond Times-Dispatch |language=en |archive-date=May 31, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190531232423/https://www.richmond.com/news/virginia/updated-at-least-dead-six-hospitalized-after-shooting-at-virginia/article_6c782e64-0652-5a0f-bc2c-b965b0dd32ad.html |url-status=live }} He fired indiscriminately{{cite web |last1=Almasy |first1=Steve |last2=Riess |first2=Rebekah |date=May 31, 2019 |title=At least 12 dead in Virginia Beach mass shooting at municipal center |url=https://www.cnn.com/2019/05/31/us/virginia-beach-shooting/index.html |access-date=May 31, 2019 |website=CNN |archive-date=May 31, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190531210859/https://www.cnn.com/2019/05/31/us/virginia-beach-shooting/index.html |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=June 1, 2019 |title='We kept hearing gunshots': At least 11 dead, 6 injured after Virginia Beach shooting |url=https://www.kcci.com/article/police-shooter-in-custody-after-multiple-injured-at-virginia-beach-municipal-building/27683935 |access-date=June 1, 2019 |website=KCCI |language=en |archive-date=June 1, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190601000330/https://www.kcci.com/article/police-shooter-in-custody-after-multiple-injured-at-virginia-beach-municipal-building/27683935 |url-status=live }} and there was no immediate indication that he had targeted anyone in particular.{{Cite news |last1=Blinder |first1=Alan |last2=Thrush |first2=Glenn |last3=Garcia |first3=Sandra E. |date=June 1, 2019 |title=Virginia Beach Shooting: 12 Victims Identified in Government Office Attack |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/01/us/virginia-beach-shooting.html |url-status=live |url-access=limited |access-date=June 1, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230213074954/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/01/us/virginia-beach-shooting.html |archive-date=13 February 2023}} He was fatally shot during a prolonged gunfight with police who responded to the scene. An autopsy report confirmed that his cause of death was multiple gunshot wounds, and that he had no drugs in his system at the time of the attack.{{Cite web |date=2023-07-20 |title=4 Charged With Murder in Botched North Beach Robbery Case |url=https://sfstandard.com/2023/07/20/four-charged-with-murder-in-north-beach-botched-robbery-case/ |access-date=2025-01-08 |website=The San Francisco Standard |language=en}}

Some members of the public and employees were initially unaware of the shooter, and many were alerted by phone calls, text messages, or word of mouth to shelter in place or evacuate the location.{{Cite web |last1=Chavez |first1=Nicole |last2=Vera |first2=Amir |title=Witnesses hid in offices and under their desks during the Virginia Beach shooting |url=https://www.cbs46.com/witnesses-hid-in-offices-and-under-their-desks-during-the/article_854fe300-f0b9-5aab-a036-4db47f81d220.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200913035325/https://www.cbs46.com/witnesses-hid-in-offices-and-under-their-desks-during-the/article_854fe300-f0b9-5aab-a036-4db47f81d220.html |archive-date=September 13, 2020 |access-date=June 1, 2019 |website=CBS46 News Atlanta |language=en |agency=CNN}} The confusion was in part due to renovations that were underway at the time leading many to believe the shots were from a nail gun or another tool.{{Cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/2019/06/02/728986386/virginia-beach-shooting-survivor-says-victim-laid-down-his-life-to-save-colleagu|title=Virginia Beach Shooting Survivor Says Victim Laid Down His Life To Save Colleagues|last=Allyn|first=Bobby|date=June 2, 2019|website=NPR.org|language=en|access-date=June 2, 2019|archive-date=June 24, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210624013557/https://www.npr.org/2019/06/02/728986386/virginia-beach-shooting-survivor-says-victim-laid-down-his-life-to-save-colleagu|url-status=live}} An active shooter situation at the municipal center was confirmed by an email from the Communications Office at 4:22 pm and the city manager around 4:40 p.m.{{cite web|url=https://www.wavy.com/news/breaking-news/potential-active-shooter-reported-vb-municipal-center/|title=Virginia Beach shooting: 12 killed, 6 injured; suspect also dead|website=WAVY.com|date=May 31, 2019|access-date=May 31, 2019|archive-date=May 18, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220518145106/https://www.wavy.com/news/breaking-news/potential-active-shooter-reported-vb-municipal-center/|url-status=live}}

The police response to the shooting was slowed down due to electronic security doors that require a badge to open.{{Cite web |last1=Lavoie |first1=Denise |last2=Finley |first2=Ben |date=5 June 2019 |title=Locked electronic doors slowed police response in Virginia Beach mass shooting |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/nation-world/ct-virginia-beach-shooting-20190605-story.html |access-date=June 14, 2019 |website=Chicago Tribune |language=en-US |archive-date=June 12, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190612084910/https://www.chicagotribune.com/nation-world/ct-virginia-beach-shooting-20190605-story.html |url-status=live }} The FBI, the ATF, and the United States Department of Homeland Security responded to assist local and state police.{{cite web |last1=Romero |first1=Dennis |last2=Burke |first2=Minyvonne |date=June 1, 2019 |title=12 killed in Virginia Beach shooting; suspect, city engineer DeWayne Craddock, is dead |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/suspect-custody-active-shooter-situation-virginia-beach-n1012646 |access-date=June 1, 2019 |website=NBC News |archive-date=February 26, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210226080156/https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/suspect-custody-active-shooter-situation-virginia-beach-n1012646 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |last1= |first1= |date=May 31, 2019 |title=12 dead in mass shooting in Virginia Beach Municipal Building |url=https://www.abc15.com/news/national/virginia-beach-city-manager-confirms-active-shooting-situation |access-date=June 1, 2019 |website=ABC 15 |archive-date=March 7, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210307231405/https://www.abc15.com/news/national/virginia-beach-city-manager-confirms-active-shooting-situation |url-status=live }} Two semi-automatic pistols, a suppressor, and multiple extended magazines were found at the scene. The perpetrator had purchased the firearms legally within the previous three years.{{Cite web|url=https://wtkr.com/2019/05/31/virginia-beach-police-respond-to-active-situation-at-courthouse-building-on-lockdown/|title=12 victims, shooter killed in Virginia Beach mass shooting|date=May 31, 2019|website=WTKR.com|language=en|access-date=June 1, 2019|archive-date=July 5, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220705200521/https://www.wtkr.com/2019/05/31/virginia-beach-police-respond-to-active-situation-at-courthouse-building-on-lockdown/|url-status=live}}{{Cite web |last1=Alltucker |first1=Kenneth |last2=Stanglin |first2=Doug |last3=Quintana |first3=Chris |last4=Hayes |first4=Christal |date=June 2, 2019 |title=Virginia Beach mass shooting that killed 12 puzzles law enforcement; 4 critical at hospitals |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2019/06/02/virginia-beach-shooter-dewayne-craddock-puzzles-law-enforcement/1319550001/ |access-date=June 2, 2019 |website=USA TODAY |language=en |archive-date=March 9, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220309035016/https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2019/06/02/virginia-beach-shooter-dewayne-craddock-puzzles-law-enforcement/1319550001/ |url-status=live }}

Victims

The shooter killed twelve people. Eleven were city employees and one was a contractor in the building to obtain a permit. The employees had a combined 150 years of service, one having worked there for 41 years, another who had worked for just 11 months. Six employees worked in the public utilities department, alongside their killer.{{cite news|title=Virginia victims had 150 years of combined service with city|url=https://www.apnews.com/081795a8c4fa4a479e374138e366b95f|date=June 1, 2019|publisher=Associated Press|first1=Ben|last1=Finley|first2=Denise|last2=Lavoie|access-date=June 2, 2019|archive-date=June 2, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190602140704/https://www.apnews.com/081795a8c4fa4a479e374138e366b95f|url-status=live}} Four other people were injured and hospitalized, with three in critical condition; in addition, a police officer was shot in his ballistic vest.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/four-hospital-three-critical-after-12-killed-virginia-beach-shooting-n1012801|title=Four in hospital, three critical after 12 killed in Virginia Beach shooting|last=Burke|first=Minyvonne|date=June 1, 2019|website=NBC News|language=en|access-date=June 2, 2019|archive-date=November 29, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201129013634/https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/four-hospital-three-critical-after-12-killed-virginia-beach-shooting-n1012801|url-status=live}}

According to her family's attorney, one of the victims contemplated bringing a pistol with her to work the night prior to the shooting but did not do so due to a city policy forbidding it.{{Cite web|url=https://pilotonline.com/news/local/virginia-beach-mass-shooting/article_3843db5c-8b9e-11e9-b87f-e3e87b2a3b42.html|title=Virginia Beach shooting victim considered taking gun to work over concerns about colleague, lawyer says|last=Hafner|first=Katherine|website=Virginian-Pilot|language=en|access-date=June 13, 2019|archive-date=June 12, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190612221815/https://pilotonline.com/news/local/virginia-beach-mass-shooting/article_3843db5c-8b9e-11e9-b87f-e3e87b2a3b42.html|url-status=live}}

Perpetrator

The perpetrator was identified by the police as 40-year-old DeWayne Antonio Craddock (born DeWayne Antonio Hamilton;{{Cite web |last1=Skelton |first1=Alissa |last2=Coutu |first2=Peter |date=June 5, 2019 |title=Virginia Beach killer matched the cliche: quiet, polite, unassuming |url=https://www.pilotonline.com/news/virginia-beach-mass-shooting/article_e4c9bebc-87e5-11e9-9da9-836f25e1bc78.html |access-date=December 2, 2019 |website=The Virginian Pilot |archive-date=September 8, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190908064429/https://www.pilotonline.com/news/virginia-beach-mass-shooting/article_e4c9bebc-87e5-11e9-9da9-836f25e1bc78.html |url-status=live }} October 15, 1978 {{ndash}} May 31, 2019).{{cite web|url=https://newsone.com/3853534/dewayne-craddock-virginia-beach-shooting-suspect/|title=Who Is DeWayne Craddock? Virginia Beach Mass Shooter Identified As Disgruntled Employee|date=June 1, 2019|publisher=NewsOne|access-date=June 1, 2019|archive-date=December 27, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211227062252/https://newsone.com/3853534/dewayne-craddock-virginia-beach-shooting-suspect/|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2019/06/01/dewayne-craddock-what-we-know-suspect-virginia-beach-shooting/1310595001/|title=What we know about the suspect in the Virginia Beach shooting that killed 12|last=Garrisson|first=Joey|date=June 1, 2019|website=USA TODAY|language=en|access-date=June 1, 2019|archive-date=March 9, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210309223822/https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2019/06/01/dewayne-craddock-what-we-know-suspect-virginia-beach-shooting/1310595001/|url-status=live}} He worked as an engineer in the city's public utilities department until tendering his resignation in an email he sent to city management a few hours before the attack.{{cite news |last1=Holcombe |first1=Madeline |title=New details emerge in the Virginia Beach mass shooting that left 12 people dead |url=https://www.cnn.com/2019/06/02/us/virginia-beach-shooting-sunday/index.html |access-date=June 2, 2019 |date=June 2, 2019 |archive-date=June 2, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190602112725/https://www.cnn.com/2019/06/02/us/virginia-beach-shooting-sunday/index.html |url-status=live }} Having resigned "within good standing in his department", Craddock still possessed a security pass to enter employee workspaces within the building at the time of the attack.{{cite news |last1=Holcombe |first1=Madeline |last2=Hanna |first2=Jason |last3=Morales |first3=Mark |date=June 1, 2019 |title=All but one of the 12 killed in the Virginia Beach shooting were city employees, official says |work=CNN |publisher= |url=https://www.cnn.com/2019/06/01/us/virginia-beach-shooting-saturday/index.html |access-date=June 1, 2019 |archive-date=February 25, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210225161504/https://www.cnn.com/2019/06/01/us/virginia-beach-shooting-saturday/index.html |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |author=Holcombe |first1=Madeline |last2=Morales |first2=Mark |last3=Yan |first3=Holly |date=June 2, 2019 |title=More questions than answers as Virginia Beach grieves after mass shooting |url=https://www.cnn.com/2019/06/02/us/virginia-beach-shooting-sunday/index.html |access-date=June 2, 2019 |website=CNN |archive-date=June 2, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190602112725/https://www.cnn.com/2019/06/02/us/virginia-beach-shooting-sunday/index.html |url-status=live }} In the days prior to the shooting, he was alleged to have been involved in physical scuffles with fellow city employees and threatened with disciplinary action.{{cite news |last=Kovaleski |first=Serge F. |date=June 1, 2019 |title=Suspect in Virginia Beach Shooting Was a Longtime City Employee |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/01/us/dewayne-craddock-virginia.html |url-status=live |url-access=limited |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200220164657/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/01/us/dewayne-craddock-virginia.html |archive-date=20 February 2020}} However, the city manager said that when Craddock resigned, he "had no issues of discipline ongoing".

File:H&K USP CT, .45 ACP (25625290736).jpg

Within the span of at least three years prior to the shooting, Craddock had legally acquired six firearms, five of which were chambered in .45 ACP. Two .45-caliber pistols (a Glock 21 and an H&K USP Compact Tactical equipped with a suppressor) were used in the shooting and three more weapons were found at his home, including one Bond Arms Backup Derringer in .45-caliber, one Just Right Carbine in .45-caliber, and another Glock 21 pistol in .45-caliber. The sixth weapon was an unidentified Ruger rifle the suspect purchased on April 12.{{cite web |last1=Dorn |first1=Sara |last2=Italiano |first2=Laura |date=June 1, 2019 |title=New details emerge about alleged Virginia Beach shooter DeWayne Craddock |url=https://nypost.com/2019/06/01/new-details-emerge-about-alleged-virginia-beach-shooter-dewayne-craddock/ |website=New York Post |publisher= |access-date=June 2, 2019 |archive-date=June 2, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190602191737/https://nypost.com/2019/06/01/new-details-emerge-about-alleged-virginia-beach-shooter-dewayne-craddock/ |url-status=live }}

Craddock graduated in 1996 from Denbigh High School in Newport News. Between 1996 and 2002, he served in the Virginia Army National Guard in Norfolk as a cannon crew member with the First Battalion, 111th Field Artillery Regiment. At the time of his discharge he held the rank of Specialist (E-4) and had not been deployed for combat service.{{cite news |last=McNamara |first=Audrey |date=June 1, 2019 |title=Accused Virginia Beach Shooter Wished Co-Worker a 'Good Day' Before the Rampage |work=Daily Beast |publisher= |url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/accused-virginia-beach-shooter-dewayne-craddock-wished-co-worker-a-good-day-before-the-rampage |access-date=June 2, 2019 |archive-date=June 2, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190602082500/https://www.thedailybeast.com/accused-virginia-beach-shooter-dewayne-craddock-wished-co-worker-a-good-day-before-the-rampage |url-status=live }} In 2002, he graduated from Old Dominion University with a degree in civil engineering.{{cite news |last1=Miller |first1=Michael E. |last2=Bui |first2=Lynh |last3=Zauzmer Weil |first3=Julie |date=June 1, 2019 |title=DeWayne Craddock, a longtime Virginia Beach employee, identified as shooter who killed 12 in city building |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/public-safety/dewayne-craddock-a-longtime-virginia-beach-employee-identified-as-shooter-who-killed-12-in-city-building/2019/06/01/0fe20766-840e-11e9-95a9-e2c830afe24f_story.html |url-status=live |url-access=subscription |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230213075821/https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/public-safety/dewayne-craddock-a-longtime-virginia-beach-employee-identified-as-shooter-who-killed-12-in-city-building/2019/06/01/0fe20766-840e-11e9-95a9-e2c830afe24f_story.html |archive-date=13 February 2023}}

Prior to the shooting, Craddock did not have a criminal record with the exception of minor traffic violations.

Aftermath

Multiple vigils were organized for the victims of the shooting by churches and other organizations.{{Cite web |date=June 2019 |title=Vigils being held after Virginia Beach Municipal Center shooting |url=https://www.wavy.com/news/vigils-being-held-after-virginia-beach-municipal-center-shooting/ |access-date=June 1, 2019 |website=WAVY.com |language=en-US |archive-date=December 11, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201211141447/https://www.wavy.com/news/vigils-being-held-after-virginia-beach-municipal-center-shooting/ |url-status=live }} Members of the Courthouse Community United Methodist Church prepared food for police at the scene, after it was secured.

The day after the shooting, Virginia Beach police held a news conference that included a detailed presentation on the names, photos, and job titles of the twelve victims who were killed, including the towns in which they lived.{{cite news |last=Finley |first=Ben |date=June 2, 2019 |title=Virginia Beach shines light on victims, not mass shooter |work=Associated Press |url=https://www.apnews.com/88f844772f6b4e55a72396c930ebfc0a |access-date=June 2, 2019 |archive-date=June 2, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190602051209/https://apnews.com/88f844772f6b4e55a72396c930ebfc0a |url-status=live }} They announced the perpetrator's name only once, vowing that it would be the only time they would ever do so.

On July 2, 2019, the Virginia Beach City Council voted to order an independent investigation of the circumstances that led to the mass shooting. The decision came after the families of some of the victims expressed dissatisfaction with the information released by the authorities.{{cite web |date=July 2, 2019 |title=Virginia Beach City Council votes in favor of independent external investigation |url=https://wtkr.com/2019/07/02/virginia-beach-city-council-passes-resolution-for-independent-investigation-into-mass-shooting/ |access-date=July 2, 2019 |website=WTKR |publisher= |archive-date=July 2, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190702220537/https://wtkr.com/2019/07/02/virginia-beach-city-council-passes-resolution-for-independent-investigation-into-mass-shooting/ |url-status=live }}

=Reactions=

Virginia Governor Ralph Northam tweeted, "My heart breaks for the victims of this devastating shooting, their families, and all who loved them."{{cite news |last1=Mele |first1=Christopher |last2=Andrews |first2=Kate |last3=Eligon |first3=John |date=May 31, 2019 |title=Virginia Beach Shooting: 12 Killed in Rampage at Municipal Center |website=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/31/us/virginia-beach-shooting.html |url-status=live |url-access=limited |access-date=May 31, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210330150420/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/31/us/virginia-beach-shooting.html |archive-date=30 March 2021}} Virginia Beach Mayor Bobby Dyer said, "This is the most devastating day in the history of Virginia Beach." He tried to quell both sides of the gun control debate, asking all to avoid "knee jerk reaction" and "bipartisan bureaucratic malpractice." Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring said, "In recent years there have been mass shootings at American elementary schools, colleges, government buildings, offices, concerts, movie theaters, nightclubs, and even places of worship, like churches, mosques, and synagogues. We have to do more to stop this kind of violence."

Virginia's junior U.S. Senator, Tim Kaine, promised to "keep pushing for Congress to take action to prevent the daily scourge of gun violence in America."{{cite web|url=https://www.live5news.com/2019/05/31/multiple-injuries-reported-after-shooting-va-beach-suspect-captured/|title='Unspeakable, senseless violence': 12 killed, suspect dead in Va. Beach shooting|website=WCSC, Live 5 News|date=May 31, 2019|access-date=May 31, 2019|archive-date=March 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308112454/https://www.live5news.com/2019/05/31/multiple-injuries-reported-after-shooting-va-beach-suspect-captured/|url-status=live}} Virginia's senior U.S. Senator, Mark Warner, thanked police for their response.{{cite web|url=https://pilotonline.com/news/government/article_a15dc650-8407-11e9-9f71-0b2527811271.html|title=Reaction to the mass shooting at the Virginia Beach Municipal Center|last=Gregory|first=Sara|author2=Mike Connors|website=The Virginian-Pilot|date=May 31, 2019|access-date=May 31, 2019|archive-date=June 1, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190601044550/https://pilotonline.com/news/government/article_a15dc650-8407-11e9-9f71-0b2527811271.html|url-status=dead}} U.S. Representative Elaine Luria, who represents Virginia Beach, offered sympathies and thanked "first responders and law enforcement for risking their lives to bring a suspect into custody." She further said that the incident "is more proof Congress must act to prevent gun violence."{{cite web |last1=Axelrod |first1=Tal |title=Virginia lawmakers respond to shooting: 'My heart breaks for ... our entire commonwealth' |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/446441-virginia-lawmakers-respond-to-shooting-my-heart-breaks-for-our-entire |website=The Hill |access-date=June 1, 2019 |date=May 31, 2019 |archive-date=November 8, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201108001719/https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/446441-virginia-lawmakers-respond-to-shooting-my-heart-breaks-for-our-entire |url-status=live }} U.S. President Donald Trump also offered condolences,{{cite web|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/446477-trump-offers-condolences-to-virginia-beach-community-after-12-killed|title=Trump offers condolences after Virginia Beach shooting|last=Frazin|first=Rachel|website=TheHill|date=June 1, 2019|access-date=June 2, 2019|archive-date=June 1, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190601173545/https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/446477-trump-offers-condolences-to-virginia-beach-community-after-12-killed|url-status=live}} as did House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.