17 Years Later – The Upstate New York Mass Murder That Devastated a Nation

April 3, 2026, marks 17 years since tragedy hit Upstate New York, and yet, I still vividly remember where I was when the news broke that there was a mass shooting at the American Civic Association in Binghamton. Do you remember where you were?

April 3, 2009, began as an ordinary day, until a single act of unspeakable violence shattered a community and etched itself into history as the deadliest mass shooting by a lone gunman in the state of New York.

Seventeen years ago, a gunman opened fire at the American Civic Association in Binghamton, killing 13 people and wounding several others. The attack, carried out by Jiverly Antares Wong, sent shockwaves through the local community and across the nation.

The Shooter: Jiverly Wong

At approximately 10:30 a.m. on April 3, Jiverly Wong, a 41-year-old naturalized American citizen of Vietnamese origin, arrived at the American Civic Association. He blocked the rear exit with his vehicle before entering the building, armed and wearing a bulletproof vest, a bright green jacket, and dark-rimmed glasses.

The Attack Begins

Wong opened fire immediately upon entering, shooting at anyone in his path. Two receptionists were among the first to be struck. One was killed by a shot to the head; the other, wounded in the stomach, had the presence of mind to feign death and quietly call 911, giving authorities their first critical account of the unfolding attack.

The Classroom Massacre

Wong forced his way into a classroom where an English as a Second Language (ESL) class was in session. He opened fire indiscriminately, killing thirteen people, including the professor. After the shooting, he took several survivors hostage.

Law enforcement responded to the scene immediately. Upon hearing the alarms, Wong ended his own life by shooting himself, approximately three minutes after commencing the attack. It was later determined that Wong had fired a total of 99 rounds from two semi-automatic pistols.

Securing the Scene

In the immediate aftermath, police secured the premises and rescued the remaining hostages. The surrounding community was left devastated, struggling to comprehend the scale of the loss and the senselessness of the violence.

Uncovering a Motive

Authorities launched a thorough investigation into Wong's background in search of answers. Records revealed a history of erratic behavior, along with deep feelings of humiliation tied to his limited English skills. Persistent struggles to find steady employment are believed to have further fueled his frustration.

A Lone Gunman

Claims by Pakistani Taliban leader Baitullah Mehsud that his group was responsible for the shooting were swiftly dismissed by the FBI. All evidence confirmed that Wong had acted entirely alone.

A Nation Responds

The Binghamton shooting sent shockwaves far beyond the local community. President Barack Obama offered his condolences and condemned the violence, while New York Governor David Paterson ordered flags across the state to be flown at half-staff.

Supporting the Survivors

For the survivors and families of the victims, the grief was immeasurable, each life lost leaving a lasting void. In the weeks that followed, the community rallied to provide counseling, support services, and resources to help those affected begin to heal.

Victims of the Binghamton Mass Shooting

• Parveen Ali, a 26-year-old immigrant from northern Pakistan.
• Almir Olimpio Alves, a 43-year-old Brazilian PhD in Mathematics and visiting scholar at Binghamton University.
• Marc Henry Bernard, a 44-year-old immigrant from Haiti.
• Maria Sonia Bernard, a 46-year-old immigrant from Haiti.
• Li Guo, a 47-year-old visiting scholar from China.
• Lan Ho, a 39-year-old immigrant from Vietnam.
• Layla Khalil, a 53-year-old Iraqi mother of three children.
• Roberta King, a 72-year-old English language teacher.
• Jiang Ling, a 22-year-old immigrant from China.
• Hong Xiu "Amy" Mao Marsland, a 35-year-old nail technician from China.
• Dolores Yigal, a 53-year-old recent immigrant from the Philippines.
• Hai Hong Zhong, a 54-year-old immigrant from China.
• Maria Zobniw, a 60-year-old part-time caseworker at the Civic Association.

Wounded in the Binghamton Mass Shooting

• Shirley DeLucia, a 61-year-old Civic Association receptionist, feigned death and contacted the police.
• Long Huynh, a 42-year-old Vietnamese immigrant.
• Two additional unidentified individuals.