2009 American Civic Association Massacre

On April 3, 2009, Jiverly Wong, a 41-year-old Vietnamese immigrant, entered the American Civic Association (ACA) building in Binghamton, New York, and using 9mm Beretta and .45-caliber Beretta handguns opened fire, killing 13 people and wounding 4 others before committing suicide by a gunshot to the head.

The ACA provided services such as English language classes and citizenship assistance to immigrants. That day, around 40 people were in the building, including students taking a citizenship class.

Background & Motive

Wong immigrated to the U.S. from Vietnam in the early 1990s.

He was a naturalized U.S. citizen.

Had a history of paranoia and resentment toward others, particularly due to his belief that people mocked his poor English skills. He lost his job in November 2008 and had been unemployed since. Had previously attended English classes at the ACA but dropped out. He Sent a rambling letter to a Syracuse TV station before the attack, detailing his grievances, including unemployment and perceived humiliation. Wong Reportedly told family and acquaintances that he was frustrated, depressed, and felt like a failure.

Timeline of the Attack

10:30 AM: Wong parked his car against the building's back door to block exits.

Entered through the front entrance, shooting the receptionist Marc Bernard David (who had just called 911).

Continued into a classroom where a citizenship test preparation class was in session, firing indiscriminately.

Some survivors played dead; others hid in closets and a boiler room.

SWAT teams arrived but initially believed Wong had hostages.

Police found Wong dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound about three hours later.

Initial 911 Call and Arrival

The first 911 call came from receptionist Marc Bernard David at 10:30 AM, just before he was shot.

Witnesses inside the building also called 911, reporting an active shooter.

Binghamton Police Department (BPD) and New York State Police arrived within minutes but initially believed it was a hostage situation.

Tactical Approach & SWAT Deployment

11:00 AM: A SWAT team was mobilized and positioned outside the American Civic Association (ACA) building.

The main challenge was uncertainty about how many shooters were inside.

Police established perimeters to prevent the suspect from escaping.

The gunman's car was found parked against the back door, which prevented some potential escape routes.

Authorities used snipers and surveillance equipment to assess the situation.

Hostage Uncertainty & Entry Delay

Due to limited intelligence from inside, police initially believed hostages were being held.

SWAT teams did not immediately storm the building, fearing they might trigger more casualties.

Meanwhile, survivors played dead or hid in locked rooms, waiting for help.

Some victims bled out before police could enter, which later became a controversial point in the response.

Building Entry & Suspect Found Dead

At about 2:00 PM, after several hours of no gunfire, police decided to enter.

Officers found Jiverly Wong dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound in a classroom.

Nearby, victims were found in clusters, confirming an indiscriminate attack rather than a targeted hostage scenario.

Victims

13 people were killed, all of which were immigrants or children of immigrants.

Li Guo - 47 years old from China. A Mother of two studying English

Maria Sonia Bernard - 46 years old from Brazil. Trying to improve English for job opportunities

Layla Khalil - 57 years old from Iraq. Refugee. Came to the U.S. for safety

Parvin AliMohammad - 26 years old from Pakistan. Learning English for a better future

Roberta King - 72 years old from the United States. A Volunteer English teacher

Marc Bernard David - 35 years old from Haiti. An ACA receptionist, first to be shot

Hong Xiu "Amy" Mao Marsland - 35 years old from China. Hoping to gain U.S. citizenship

Lan Ho - 39 years old from Vietnam. Learning English to support her family

Dilanda L. Young - 53 years old from the United States. A Teacher helping immigrants

Abdullah Mohammed - 46 years old from Iraq. A Refugee fleeing violence

Almir Olimpio - 31 years old from Brazil. Recently married, seeking a better future

Jiang Ling - 22 years old from China. A Young immigrant seeking education