By Gary A. Harki and Katherine Hafner
Staff writers | Jun 1, 2019
VIRGINIA BEACH
Thirty-five minutes.
That’s all the time it took for a gunman to end 12 lives and lose his own.
Virginia Beach Mayor Bobby Dyer may have called the tragedy at Municipal Building 2 Friday the city’s darkest hour, but there was some light — the heroism of the officers who ran into gunfire to save lives.
Police scanner traffic archived online gives a minute-by-minute account of how the worst mass shooting in the city’s history unfolded.
The first sign of trouble came in about 4:08 p.m.
“One down, gunshot wound 2405 Courthouse Drive Building 2,” a dispatcher says. “Caller is advising of a male in front of building 2, possibly shot.”
Sirens wail on the scanner and a dispatcher notes that someone is still firing.
A minute later a victim is spotted on a stairwell in the back of the building. An officer wants clarification — there’s a victim and an active shooter?
“Still actively hearing gunshots.”
Virginia Beach police scanner audio from 3:49 to 4:18 p.m. documents the terror as initial reports of gunfire at the Municipal Center come in.
Around 4:11 p.m. four plainclothes detectives arrive.
“Do we have any idea where the shooter is at,” says a shaky voice on the scanner. “I’m going in.”
“Southside of the building,” another responds.
