14 dead as my hometown mourns

[Lilbeamercomin]

I grew up in Broome county NY (Binghamton, JC, Endicott, Endwell, Vestal) , and recently moved to Elmira NY (about 5 years ago). Binghamton NY is known for very little, but it is the birth place of Twilight Zone writer and creator, Rod Sterling. There isn't much in Binghamton. A few factories, some small businesses, but mostly residential. On April 3rd an armed gunman walked into the Civic Center and opened fire, killing 13 innocent people along with himself.  I received a phone call from my long time best friend who lives on Front St. around 1:00 this afternoon. The scene she described was something out of a crime solving TV show. Police cruisers as far as the eye could see. The armed guard made a special appearance. The FBI was also involved as well as probably every county sherriff employed by Broome county.

There is a sick perversion that sweeps over you when you realize that your hometown is featured on national news. Then the reason why hits you. 13 people dead. 13 families torn apart today. 13 souls left wondering why. All because a man had a bad day. It hurts. These people, blessed to even have a job in today's world, woke up thinking today was going to be a normal day. I wonder how many of them would have called to tell someone that they loved them if they knew they were going to die. Let this be a lesson to everyone. NEVER pass up the opportunity to tell someone how much you love them. You never know if a man having a bad day is going to walk in to your place of employment and start shooting.

40 people held hostage. Of those 40 people, 17 were shot. Of those 17 people shot, 13 died.

My love and prayers go out to the families of the people lost at today's Civic Center tragedy.

[Eveysmom527]

Apr. 17, 2009 at 1:45 PM

I live about 15 minutes outside of Binghamton. I can't believe that this happened.