Troubled gunman ‘hated America’

IMMIGRANT centre gunman Jiverly Wong was upset over losing his job, people picking on him for his limited English and once angrily told a co-worker that he hated America.

It remains unclear exactly why the Vietnamese immigrant strapped on a bulletproof vest, barged in on a citizenship class in Binghamton, New York, and killed 13 people and himself, but the police chief said one thing was sure: “He must have been a coward.”

Wong, 41, who was wearing body armour, had apparently been preparing for a gun battle with police, but changed course and decided to turn the gun on himself when he heard sirens approaching, Chief Joseph Zikuski said yesterday.

“He had a lot of ammunition on him, so thank God before more lives were lost, he decided to do that.”

Police and Wong’s acquaintances portrayed him as an angry, troubled man who struggled with drugs and redundancy and perhaps blamed his adopted country for his troubles. His rampage “was not a surprise” to those who knew him, Mr Zikuski said.

“He felt degraded because people were apparently making fun of his poor English speaking.”

Wong had until last month been taking classes at the American Civic Association, which teaches English to immigrants and helps them prepare for citizenship tests. On Friday, he parked his car against the back door of the association, burst through the front doors and shot two receptionists, killing one, before moving on to a classroom where he claimed 12 more victims.