6 months after tragedy in Binghamton, NY

You know what I hate? Well among other things, the hit and run nature of the major media. It's something that really has always annoyed me. The way they swoop in and get a few headlines but never really get the full story, or follow-up. Its a bad change from just a decade or so ago.

Take for example the Civic Center shooting in Binghamton, New York. It was a dark day for the city and tragic. I recall getting a call and a text from friends concerned about me when they heard the news. That's how I found out what was happening 6 blocks from my house. And of course I went to cover the breaking news.

It was a cold rainy day. I spent hours getting photos and finding out whatever I could. The number of rumors that day was incredible. Many thought it might have been a terrorist attack early on. But as I continued to seek out facts the situation became more clear. It was the deranged actions of a single troubled man.

There was of course lots of news media around. They traveled from Ithaca, Syracuse, and I recall a few from New York City in the day or so afterwards. But it was just a day or so before they were all gone, moving on to other stories. Which would be fine, except it nagged me that in all the stories almost none of the media bothered to find out what Binghamton was like before the shooting.

I let it go, expecting that at some point there would be some kind of follow-up. Yet it has never happened. Binghamton was marked as a place with a potential danger or some kind of scarlet letter. And while most people in the nation may not thnk of Binghamton's shooting, when the name comes up it has been something they recall. Which I can't abide.

So I have sought out to tell a bit of the real nature of Binghamton. The city that I have called my home for 5 years now. A city that is small but filled with a diversity of people from across the nation, and more than a few countries. Its a place that is perhaps the safest place I have ever lived, and generally filled with good people.

Part of my desire is to set the record straight. Part of it is as a minor member of the press (I'm no CNN) I believe that the positive side of Binghamton deserves to be shown. And of course part of it is the fact this is where I call home.

Thus I start my ongoing coverage with a 15 minute interview with Mayor Matt Ryan. We discussed some of the events of that day. The difficulties that the local authorities had, and how they were resolved. We discussed what has changed in Binghamton, and more importantly what has not. Overall we spoke about the strength of a community and the ability of its people to overcome adversity.

Thus I present my interview with Mayor Matt Ryan of Binghamton, NY





I hope that this helps complete the part of the news cycle that never got finished back in April. I will have more on this soon.

Unknown heroes in Binghamton took many forms

There has been much thanks and congratulations given to the local and state police in thier response to the attack at the Civic Association, which is due. But I believe that there are others that have not gotten enough credit that they are equally due. Because there are true heroes from this entire event. Some of them just didn't get national media attention.

The hero that has yet to be named is the receptionist who survived the initial attack. One of the first to become a victim of this rampage, with wounds in her stomach she pretended to be dead. Then she made the critical 911 call that brought police and SWAT teams. Without that call, and her efforts to identify the killer, and other information about the event and location, it is unimaginable what could have happened.

There are other people that I think need to be celebrated as well. People who stepped up to help others, just because there was a need. I noticed one of those good samaritans, Mr. Nadil Noouh, at around 12:45. I was able to speak with him last night about the deadly rampage.

Mr. Nadil Noouh is a 26 year old naturalized citizen of the U.S. He lives in the Binghamton area since 2002, used to go to the Civic Association before he passed his tests, and is familiar with the immigrant community in the city. Mr. Noouh also volunteers his time to help translate for immigrants that have trouble with english at the Civic Association.

In the middle of the confusion and horror of the shooting rampage Mr. Noouh, who speaks multiple languages, volunteered to help where he could. His desire to help ensure that communication between those surviving the shooting and police seeking to help them overrode his desire to remain safe. Few of us might have that same thought given the situation.

In speaking with Mr. Noouh about the day, I learned that the police were appreciative of his efforts. They directed him to a nearby firestation where he could be in contact with the hostages. A staging area where critical facts of the what and how could be determined.

I was told how the greatest fear Mr. Noouh had for the survivors was that the lack of understanding english might cause confusion and potential injury; if commands from police like "put your hands up" could not be understood. I learned that Mr. Noouh did this at the risk of his job potentially. Though once he contacted his manager at a nearby large computer technology company he was given all the time he needed to help out.

As it turned out Mr. Noouh was not used. There were many translators gathered with speed by the police from the local community. Still I believe that the effort being made, at a time when so little was known or clear, makes a major statement. And Mr. Noouh was not the only one to do this, though he was one that I did observe personally.

Mr. Noouh mentioned to me in my interview last night that it turned out he did have 1 associate that was in the building during this horrendous crime. Luckily that associate was one of the 37 people that survived the ordeal. I also asked if he knew the attacker, or if there was any clue in the immigrant community beforehand that this was possible. So far, Mr. Noouh has not seen a picture of the man responsible for this cowardly act and thus is unsure if he knows him. And to his best knowledge, of the immigrants and community within Binghamton, there was no warning signs, no indication of the potential for what occured.

Mr. Noouh stated,

"We lost a lot of people, all of us. It's a sad day. I wish I could have helped more. Hopefully people will show up tomorrow and in the future to move forward in time."

I concur. It will take time. And the heartache, the pain, of this event is still just being understood by all of Binghamton. But I believe that this city will overcome this pain, and become a stronger and better city. Because, at the heart of it all, there are heroes and good samaritians in this city. We will never know all their names, or everythig they each did or tried to do. But the fact they exist is a credit to the city and it's people.

Update after press conference with Gov. Patterson

I have returned from the press conference at City Hall in Binghamton and I will give a quick rundown of some of the facts as discussed by Governor patterson, Mayor Matthew Ryan and Police Chief Joseph Zikuski.

I know that several rumors are floating around the city of Binghamton. There was no shutdown of cell phone service today. Nor was there a bomb threat at the Federal building as of what I have learned. There is no known connection to terrorist, Al Quida or any other group at this time. It is unclear what the motivation for this insane and viscious attack. There is no confirmation that the attacker - who's name is not being divulged at this time - either was angry from losing a job or failing a test.

Most of the rumors running thru Binghamton right now are nothing more than just that. In a small community where crime is low and such acts unthought of, the need to have a cause is rampant. But it is not in the best interest of anyone to believe any of these unsubstantiated facts.

What we do know is that the gunman blocked the back door with a car that was not his own. We know that a receptionist, who is in critical condition right now, called 911 about a man with firearms and shooting. We know that police responded within minutes of that call and that the Police Cheif was on the scene in 3 minutes.

We know that 26 people were in the basement hiding from the gunman, and that police were in constant contact with those people. Had the gunman approached them the Police Chief assured the press that SWAT and officers would have acted to protect those people. We also know that the gunman did not have a rifle, but did have 2 semi-automatic handguns and a hunting knife. We know that the victims were located in the first room after entering the Civic Association building. And we know that at some point the believed gunman shot himself.

I can also state that police are currently searching the believed gunman's residence, and continuing the investigation. Answers will come. Wild speculation helps no one at this time.

I will have more once I finish editing my video of the press conference. I am not a major news agency, but I am working as fast as I can to provide the accurate truth of whayt has happened in Binghamton New York today.