GRASSADELLIA CITY -- The state of Damoign is reeling after a gunman opened fire at the Grassadellia Comic-Con event in Grassadellia City, Saturday evening.
Gun shots suddenly rang out at the nation's largest Comic-Con gathering at 6:01 pm in the Sequester Lane neighborhood in Middleboro, about five miles south-southwest of the city's Central Business District (CBD).
Initial reports from Grassadellia City Metropolitan Police (GCMP) put the death toll at 19, with an unknown number of injured.
GCMP Commissioner Barry Whitemore said the lone suspect was shot and killed by police.
The shooting lasted only about three minutes, with multiple officers firing their weapons at the gunman.
"I can tell you we are confident there was only one suspect, a male, and he was taken down by multiple officers," Whitemore said at a hastily-arranged press conference.
"Active shooter situation in Sequester Lane -- avoid if you can, if in area, stay inside buildings & lock doors," tweeted GCMP as the event unfolded.
The shooting took place outside on Cayhill Street and in street-front businesses, where people rushed inside to take cover, police said.
The Comic-Con event was being held at the Deely Arts Centre, with most festivities taking place inside the building. However, there were many attendees and Comic-Con-related activities taking place out on the street.
"Most of the Comic-Con-goers were not outside on the street, but we're still talking about hundreds or thousands of people walking outside near the entrance, as well as customers of neighboring businesses," Whitemore said.
Nineteen deaths have been confirmed, but that number is likely to rise, Whitemore cautioned.
It's unknown exactly how many people were injured, because Whitemore said police were focused on eliminating the threat.
"In the chaos that unfolded, there were a lot of people injured and GCMP was not able to ascertain an exact number, but we are working on that," said the chief.
No information on the gunman's identity has been released yet, all Whitemore would disclose is the gunman was a male.
Witnesses who survived the shooting described the shooter as a young, white male who did not attempt to hide his identity with a mask or hat.
"He just walked down the street firing his guns," said one woman, who ducked inside a nearby stairwell and prayed for her life.
GCMP confirmed the gunman had more than one gun, but he declined to release more details.
"Right now, we are focused on responding to the victims and containing the scene. Once that has been finished, then we will move on to analysis and getting more details out to the media."
With 19 casualties, it's by far the worst shooting in decades in Grassadellian history.
In 1956, a gunman opened up at an overseas Grassadellian military base, killing 22 people.
It appears this shooting may become the worst on domestic Grassadellian soil.
Grassadellia City Mayor Kellan Kastol was in Tolston at the time of the shooting, over an hour away. He rushed back to attend the press conference.
"Our heart is breaking right now, collectively, as a city," Kastol said, with tears in his eyes.
"This isn't who we are, it isn't fair, and the pain is just very raw right now," he added.
Damoign Governor Jenna Duvan was at the state capitol in Mattinow and flew by helicopter to Middleboro for the press conference.
"'Horrific' -- that is the only way I can describe what happened earlier this evening. Just horrific," she said.
President Jim McCaren held a televised news conference at Collester in Mavocke, thanking the first responders and pledging to act on gun violence.
"This attack happened in Grassadellia City, the heart of our nation. And while Grassadellia Citians feel the pain most directly, the shock and pain reverberates across this country."
"We are so deeply grieved by this heinous attack, and to everyone who is struggling, to every person who was at the Comic-Con or who was in the vicinity, and to every person who lost a loved one, we will do whatever we can to make sure this is the one and only time this horrible violence happens in our country," said McCaren.
Damoign's four senators joined McCaren at the press conference, and all spoke with emotion.
"How many shootings will it take before Conservative lawmakers get a clue and take action on gun violence?" asked Senate Majority Leader Debbie Madronas (N-Damoign).
Senator Deborah Kay, one of the most outspoken anti-gun senators, said she was "appalled" at the scope of the violence.
"I couldn't even bring myself to look at the screen," she said, about watching news coverage of the shooting on her iPhone.
Senator Roman Chatskovy, the only Conservative in Damoign's senate delegation, said he shared in the grief.
"This is our city, it's where many of us grew up, where we went to college, where we started our lives as young adults, hoping to strike it big and make a name for ourselves, and it's a city where millions of people live and work and call home."
"We can't have this in our city. We can't have this in our country. We have to do better," he said, pledging to act on gun control legislation.
Finally, Senator Jean Chaveau, who at age 77 is the dean of Damoign's Senate delegation, saved her harshest words for the gunman.
"I don't even know his name yet, I don't want to know it. Whoever he is, or was, he was a coward, he was filled with hate, he was a low-life scum bag. And he won't be remembered for what he did, he will be remembered for spurring the Congress to finally act on gun legislation," said Chaveau.
Other prominent Damoign politicians and celebrities, many of whom attended the Comic-Con event earlier this weekend, spoke out on the shooting.
"Angry and in shock at what happened in #SequesterLane today," wrote former Grassadellia City Mayor and Damoign Governor Sid Hoffa.
"Please know, to the people of Sequester Lane and GC, we are one city, and no attack can ever defeat us," he added.
"Was just at GC Comic-Con yesterday with my 11 yo son," wrote actor Sean Tweed on Twitter. "Horrified. Simply horrified. Love to all."
Actress April McCabe also attended the Comic-Con on the preceding day.
"My heart is breaking right now," she wrote on her Twitter account. "Literally was just there, so many happy people."
"To see it shattered by something so awful and evil as this just makes me sick to my stomach."
Politicians outside Damoign have widely condemned the shooting, but Conservative lawmakers mostly offered support, thoughts and prayers.
NAT lawmakers were much more vocal about gun control legislation.
"What happened tonight in Middleboro at the Comic-Con is despicable and vile, and Conservative Senators universally condemn this act of terror," wrote Ansleigha Senator Jon Ralston, the Conservative Senate Minority Leader.
Many political leaders labeled the shooting an act of terror, but GCMP Chief Barry Whitemore said it's too early to know if there is a connection to international terrorism or domestic terrorism.
"Did it cause terror? Of course. So in that sense, yes it was definitely an act of terrorism. But does it officially meet the technical definitions that law enforcement uses to classify these events? It's too early for me to speak to that," said Whitemore.
A candlelight vigil is scheduled to be held on Wednesday, August 28 near the crime scene. It is open to the public, and President Jim McCaren will be speaking.
A spokesman for the president said McCaren could visit the city sooner, but has chosen to wait until the public vigil so as not to get in the way of the investigation.
"Frankly, having the president there right after a traumatic event can really be more of a distraction than a help," said spokesman Jared Franks.
An area of about eight square blocks was initially cordoned off by police as they searched the streets near the shooting sight.
Most areas have been re-opened, but Cayhill Street remains closed for one block, as does Underhill Street for two blocks.
The Deely Arts Centre will remain closed until Tuesday, a spokesperson said.
Businesses near the crime scene will remain closed but police have said they will re-open the area as quickly as possible to allow business to return to normal.
Gun shots suddenly rang out at the nation's largest Comic-Con gathering at 6:01 pm in the Sequester Lane neighborhood in Middleboro, about five miles south-southwest of the city's Central Business District (CBD).
Initial reports from Grassadellia City Metropolitan Police (GCMP) put the death toll at 19, with an unknown number of injured.
GCMP Commissioner Barry Whitemore said the lone suspect was shot and killed by police.
The shooting lasted only about three minutes, with multiple officers firing their weapons at the gunman.
"I can tell you we are confident there was only one suspect, a male, and he was taken down by multiple officers," Whitemore said at a hastily-arranged press conference.
"Active shooter situation in Sequester Lane -- avoid if you can, if in area, stay inside buildings & lock doors," tweeted GCMP as the event unfolded.
The shooting took place outside on Cayhill Street and in street-front businesses, where people rushed inside to take cover, police said.
The Comic-Con event was being held at the Deely Arts Centre, with most festivities taking place inside the building. However, there were many attendees and Comic-Con-related activities taking place out on the street.
"Most of the Comic-Con-goers were not outside on the street, but we're still talking about hundreds or thousands of people walking outside near the entrance, as well as customers of neighboring businesses," Whitemore said.
Nineteen deaths have been confirmed, but that number is likely to rise, Whitemore cautioned.
It's unknown exactly how many people were injured, because Whitemore said police were focused on eliminating the threat.
"In the chaos that unfolded, there were a lot of people injured and GCMP was not able to ascertain an exact number, but we are working on that," said the chief.
No information on the gunman's identity has been released yet, all Whitemore would disclose is the gunman was a male.
Witnesses who survived the shooting described the shooter as a young, white male who did not attempt to hide his identity with a mask or hat.
"He just walked down the street firing his guns," said one woman, who ducked inside a nearby stairwell and prayed for her life.
GCMP confirmed the gunman had more than one gun, but he declined to release more details.
"Right now, we are focused on responding to the victims and containing the scene. Once that has been finished, then we will move on to analysis and getting more details out to the media."
With 19 casualties, it's by far the worst shooting in decades in Grassadellian history.
In 1956, a gunman opened up at an overseas Grassadellian military base, killing 22 people.
It appears this shooting may become the worst on domestic Grassadellian soil.
Grassadellia City Mayor Kellan Kastol was in Tolston at the time of the shooting, over an hour away. He rushed back to attend the press conference.
"Our heart is breaking right now, collectively, as a city," Kastol said, with tears in his eyes.
"This isn't who we are, it isn't fair, and the pain is just very raw right now," he added.
Damoign Governor Jenna Duvan was at the state capitol in Mattinow and flew by helicopter to Middleboro for the press conference.
"'Horrific' -- that is the only way I can describe what happened earlier this evening. Just horrific," she said.
President Jim McCaren held a televised news conference at Collester in Mavocke, thanking the first responders and pledging to act on gun violence.
"This attack happened in Grassadellia City, the heart of our nation. And while Grassadellia Citians feel the pain most directly, the shock and pain reverberates across this country."
"We are so deeply grieved by this heinous attack, and to everyone who is struggling, to every person who was at the Comic-Con or who was in the vicinity, and to every person who lost a loved one, we will do whatever we can to make sure this is the one and only time this horrible violence happens in our country," said McCaren.
Damoign's four senators joined McCaren at the press conference, and all spoke with emotion.
"How many shootings will it take before Conservative lawmakers get a clue and take action on gun violence?" asked Senate Majority Leader Debbie Madronas (N-Damoign).
Senator Deborah Kay, one of the most outspoken anti-gun senators, said she was "appalled" at the scope of the violence.
"I couldn't even bring myself to look at the screen," she said, about watching news coverage of the shooting on her iPhone.
Senator Roman Chatskovy, the only Conservative in Damoign's senate delegation, said he shared in the grief.
"This is our city, it's where many of us grew up, where we went to college, where we started our lives as young adults, hoping to strike it big and make a name for ourselves, and it's a city where millions of people live and work and call home."
"We can't have this in our city. We can't have this in our country. We have to do better," he said, pledging to act on gun control legislation.
Finally, Senator Jean Chaveau, who at age 77 is the dean of Damoign's Senate delegation, saved her harshest words for the gunman.
"I don't even know his name yet, I don't want to know it. Whoever he is, or was, he was a coward, he was filled with hate, he was a low-life scum bag. And he won't be remembered for what he did, he will be remembered for spurring the Congress to finally act on gun legislation," said Chaveau.
Other prominent Damoign politicians and celebrities, many of whom attended the Comic-Con event earlier this weekend, spoke out on the shooting.
"Angry and in shock at what happened in #SequesterLane today," wrote former Grassadellia City Mayor and Damoign Governor Sid Hoffa.
"Please know, to the people of Sequester Lane and GC, we are one city, and no attack can ever defeat us," he added.
"Was just at GC Comic-Con yesterday with my 11 yo son," wrote actor Sean Tweed on Twitter. "Horrified. Simply horrified. Love to all."
Actress April McCabe also attended the Comic-Con on the preceding day.
"My heart is breaking right now," she wrote on her Twitter account. "Literally was just there, so many happy people."
"To see it shattered by something so awful and evil as this just makes me sick to my stomach."
Politicians outside Damoign have widely condemned the shooting, but Conservative lawmakers mostly offered support, thoughts and prayers.
NAT lawmakers were much more vocal about gun control legislation.
"What happened tonight in Middleboro at the Comic-Con is despicable and vile, and Conservative Senators universally condemn this act of terror," wrote Ansleigha Senator Jon Ralston, the Conservative Senate Minority Leader.
Many political leaders labeled the shooting an act of terror, but GCMP Chief Barry Whitemore said it's too early to know if there is a connection to international terrorism or domestic terrorism.
"Did it cause terror? Of course. So in that sense, yes it was definitely an act of terrorism. But does it officially meet the technical definitions that law enforcement uses to classify these events? It's too early for me to speak to that," said Whitemore.
A candlelight vigil is scheduled to be held on Wednesday, August 28 near the crime scene. It is open to the public, and President Jim McCaren will be speaking.
A spokesman for the president said McCaren could visit the city sooner, but has chosen to wait until the public vigil so as not to get in the way of the investigation.
"Frankly, having the president there right after a traumatic event can really be more of a distraction than a help," said spokesman Jared Franks.
An area of about eight square blocks was initially cordoned off by police as they searched the streets near the shooting sight.
Most areas have been re-opened, but Cayhill Street remains closed for one block, as does Underhill Street for two blocks.
The Deely Arts Centre will remain closed until Tuesday, a spokesperson said.
Businesses near the crime scene will remain closed but police have said they will re-open the area as quickly as possible to allow business to return to normal.
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