What we know: 4 dead, including gunman, in shooting at Fifth Third building ‘This could have been a bloodbath beyond imagination,’ prosecutor says Share Shares Copy Link Copy Hide Transcript Show Transcript WEBVTT CHIEF ISAAC: LET ME BEGIN THIS AFTERNOON BY JUST REITERATING THAT THE FAMILIES OF THE VICTIMS AND ALL WHO WERE INVOLVED IN THE INCIDENT THIS MORNING ARE IN OUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS. THIS IS A HORRIFIC INCIDENT AND WE REALLY ARE GRATEFUL TO THE QUICK AND DECISIVE ACTIONS OF THE OFFICERS AND FIRE PERSONNEL WHO RESPONDED THIS MORNING. WHAT WE KNOW AT THIS POINT THIS MORNING AT APPROXIMATELY 9:11 A.M., THE EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS CENTER RECEIVED NUMEROUS 911 CALLS REPORTING SHOTS FIRED INSIDE THE LOBBY OF THE FIFTH THIRD CENTER LOCATED AT NUMBER 38 FOUNTAIN SQUARE. MULTIPLE OFFICERS RESPONDED TO THE SCENE AS CONTINUING REPORTS OF AN ACTIVE SHOOTER CONTINUED TO FLOW IN. AS THE OFFICERS APPROACHED THE LOBBY AREA OF THE FIFTH THIRD CENTER, THEY ENCOUNTERED A LONE GUNMAN ACTIVELY FIRING SHOTS IN THE FIRST FLOOR LOBBY OF THE FIFTH THIRD BUILDING. FOUR OF THE RESPONDING OFFICERS ENGAGED THE SHOOTER WITH THEIR FIREARMS STRIKING HIM MULTIPLE TIMES CAUSING HIM TO FALL TO THE GROUND. AS THE OFFICERS MADE ENTRY INTO THE BUILDING, THEY HANDCUFFED THE SUSPECT AND SECURED THE SCENE. TRAGICALLY, FIVE VICTIMS WERE SHOT BY THE SUSPECT, FOUR OF THOSE VICTIMS WERE TRANSPORTED TO UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL AND ONE WAS DETERMINED TO BE DECEASED AT THE SCENE. TWO OF THE FOUR VICTIMS THAT WERE TRANSPORTED TO THE UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL MEDICAL CENTER LATER SUCCUMBED TO THEIR INJURIES. THE SUSPECT WAS ALSO DETERMINED TO BE DECEASED ON SCENE. HE HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED AS OMAR ENRIQUE SANTA PEREZ, A MALE 29 YEARS OF AGE. WE'RE ASKING AT THIS POINT ANYONE WHO WAS A WITNESS TO THESE EVENTS OR IS IN NEED OF VICTIM SERVICES, ANYONE INVOLVED IN THIS, THEY CAN CONTACT THE CINCINNATI POLICE DEPARTMENT'S WITNES ADVOCACY PROGRAM. ADDITIONALLY AT THIS POINT IN THE INVESTIGATION, IT IS STILL VERY MUCH AN ACTIVE INVESTIGATION. WE ARE STILL PROCESSING EVIDENCE FROM THE SCENE. W HAVE ALSO EXECUTED A SEARCH WARRANT AT MR. PEREZ'S RESIDENCE IN NORTH BEND, OHIO, WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF THE HAMILTON COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT. WE ARE STILL PROCESSING THAT EVIDENCE AND LOOKING FOR ANY OPPORTUNITY TO GAIN GREATER INSIGHT AS TO THE MOTIVE OF THIS MORNING'S EVENTS. WE ARE ALSO CONFIDENT AT THIS POINT THAT THE SHOOTER ACTED ALONE AND THERE ARE NO ADDITIONAL THREATS TO THE PUBLIC I WANT TO AGAIN REITERATE MY PRAISE FOR THE RESPONDING OFFICERS IN THIS ACTIVE SHOOTING INCIDENT. THEIR BRAVERY AND HEROIC ACTIONS STOPPED THIS SHOOTER BEFORE HIS RAMPAGE CONTINUED TO DO MORE HARM. WE ARE GRATEFUL TO OUR FELLOW FIRST RESPONDERS THAT HAVE ALSO AIDED US IN THIS INCIDENT. I WANT TO PERSONALLY THANK FIRE CHIEF WINSTON AND THE BRAVE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE CINCINNATI FIRE DIVISION FOR THEIR HELP, ALSO THE MANY FEDERAL AGENCIES THAT HAVE ALSO OFFERED THEIR ASSISTANCE IN THIS CASE. I ALSO WANT TO RECOGNIZE THE EMPLOYEES OF THE FIFTH THIRD BANK WHO FOLLOWED THEIR ACTIVE DUTY TRAINING AND DRILL PROTOCOL AND THE UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL MEDICAL CENTER STAFF WHO RESPONDED TO THIS INFLUX OF VICTIMS AND DID EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO PRESERVE THE LOSS OF LIFE. AND I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL, THE MEDIA, FOR RELAYING THIS INFORMATION. NEXT STEPS, AS USUAL WE WILL HAVE A MORE DETAILED PRESS CONFERENCE SOMETIME TOMORROW, PROBABLY IN THE EARLY AFTERNOON. WHAT I CAN TELL YOU, THERE IS VIDEO THAT WAS CAPTURED. THE BODY CAMERA FOOTAGE OF THE OFFICERS, THERE IS VIDEO FOOTAGE FROM THE FIFTH THIRD CENTER AT AROUND FOUNTAIN SQUARE, SO OUR INVESTIGATORS ARE HERE IN THE PROCESS OF PUTTING THAT TOGETHER SO THAT WE ARE ABLE TO PROVIDE THAT AS TIMELY AS POSSIBLE I BELIEVE THE MAYOR WANTS TO SAY A FEW WORDS AND THEN I'LL OPEN IT UP TO WHATEVER QUESTIONS I CAN ANSWER AT THIS POINT. MAYOR: IT CONTINUES TO BE A SAD DAY FOR THE CITY AND FOR THE VICTIMS AND THOSE RECOVERING FROM INJURIES AND THE FEAR THAT HAS PLAGUED TOO MANY CITIES HIT HOME TODAY. IT'S HARD FOR IT ALL TO SINK IN, BUT IT REALLY DID HAPPEN. WE WILL GET THROUGH THIS TOGETHER. AND WE'LL HAVE TO GIVE EXTRA CARE TO THOSE WHO ARE SUFFERING LOSS. I DID HAVE THE CHANCE TO SPEAK TODAY WITH THE LEADERSHIP OF FIFTH THIRD, GREG CARMICHAEL AND RICH GRATER AND THEY WERE EMOTIONAL IN THEIR PRAISE OF THE CINCINNATI POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE CINCINNATI FIRE DEPARTMENT FOR THE BRAVERY THAT THEY SHOWED IN PREVENTING ADDITIONAL LOSS OF LIFE. IT'S CLEAR AND IT WILL BE MORE CLEAR TOMORRW WHEN THE VIDEOS ARE RELEASED JUST HOW SCARY THE SITUATION WAS, THE AMOUNT OF FEAR AND ANXIETY THAT THOSE WHO HAD THE UNLUCKY WRONG PLACE AT WRONG TIME TO BE THERE AT THAT TIME. THIS IS CLEARLY AN ACT OF GROTESQUE VIOLENCE TO INNOCENT PEOPLE AND IT SHOULD FRIGHTEN ALL OF US. IT'S HAPPENED TOO MUCH AROUND THIS COUNTRY AND WE AS A COUNTRY HAVE GOT TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO END IT. THAT'S ALL I HAVE AT THIS TIME. >> AGAIN, AS A CITY, WE JUST WANT TO EXTEND OUR HEARTFELT CONDOLENCES TO THE FAMILY AND THE FRIENDS OF THOSE THAT LOST THEIR LIVES TODAY IN THIS TRAGIC INCIDENT. AGAIN, AS EVERYBODY HAS BEEN GIVEN TREMENDOUS PRAISE TO OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT, OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT, AND ALSO OUR EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS CENTER. THEY DID A PHENOMENAL JOB HERE TODAY. WITHOUT THEIR SWIFT AND TIMELY AND EFFICIENT ACTIONS, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A LOT WORSE. SO WE'RE TRULY GRATEFUL FOR THE WORK THEY DID TODAY. THANKS. REPORTER: CHIEF, THERE ANY INDICATION THAT OMAR HAD ANY DIRECT RELATIONSHIP TO ANY BUSINESSES WITHIN THE TOWER OR IS THIS, THE FIRST APPEARANCE JUST AN INDEPENENT TARGET THAT FACILITY? >> AT THIS POINT WE HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO MAKE A DETERMINATION TO THAT. AGAIN, THE INVESTIGATION IS ONLY HOURS OLD. WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO VERIFY THAT HE IS NOT A CURRENT OR FORMER EMPLOYEE OF THE FIFTH THIRD BANKING AND WE'RE NOT AWARE OF ANY EMPLOYMENT OF ANY OF THE OTHER SURROUNDING BUSINESSES. >> DID HE TAKE THE BUS THERE? >> NOT CERTAIN HOW HE GOT THERE. WE DO KNOW THAT HE DID ENTER SEVERAL BUSINESSES AROUND FOUNTAIN SQUARE PRIOR TO ENTERING THE FIFTH THIRD CENTER, BUT NOT CERTAIN HOW HE GOT TO FOUNTAIN SQUARE. >> CAN YOU SAY -- >> HE DID ENTER POT BELLY. HE WAS IN THERE PRIOR TO ENTERING THE FIFTH THIRD CENTER. DON'T BELIEVE HE WAS IN THERE A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF TIME, BUT HE WAS IN THERE PRIOR TO ENTERING THE LOBBY OF THE FIFTH THIRD CENTER. >> CHIEF, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ONE WEAPON, MULTIPLE WEAPONS? >> WHAT WE DO KNOW, IT IS A NINE MILLIMETER SEMIAUTOMATIC PISTOL THAT HE WAS IN POSSESSION OF. HE DID HAVE MULTIPLE MAGAZINES AND A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF AMMUNITION. I'M NOT SURE OF THE EXACT COUNT. I WANT TO SAY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF MAYBE 200 ROUNDS. >> DID HE POSSESS THAT LEGALLY? >> BASED UPON WHAT WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DETERMINE AT THIS TIME, IT DOES APPEAR THAT THE FIREARM WAS LEGALLY PURCHASED? >> DO YOU KNOW IF IT WAS AN ACT OF TERRORISM OR JUST AN ISOLATED INCIDENT? >> WE DON'T HAVE ANY INDICATION OF THAT. NOTHING THAT WE HAVE DISCOVERED. THERE MAY BE A POSSIBILITY THAT THERE IS SOME MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES INVOLVED HERE, BUT AGAIN, THE INVESTIGATION IS ONLY HOURS OLD. WE'RE STILL TRYING TO DETERMINE MOTIVE. THERE IS NOTHING THAT HAS GIVEN US CONCLUSIVELY AS TO WHY HE WOULD DO SUCH A HORRIFIC THING. >> TELL US ABOUT THE VICTIMS. HAVE YOU GOTTEN IN TOUCH OF ALL OF THEIR FAMILIES? CAN YOU TELL US ANYTHING MORE ABOUT THEM IF THEY WORK IN THE BUILDING? >> WE'LL HAVE MORE ON THAT TOMORROW. I BELIEVE THE NEXT OF KIN OF THE VICTIMS HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED THROUGH VARIOUS MEANS. WE HOPE TO BE ABLE TO SHARE MORE WITH THAT TOMORROW OUT OF RESPECT TO THE FAMILIES.<doc-sep>CINCINNATI — The county coroner on Tuesday described the gunman in the fatal shootings in downtown Cincinnati as determined to kill "as many people" as possible without hesitation and said that she had met one of the victims. Dr. Lakshmi Sammarco reported on autopsy findings from the Fifth Third Bank building shootings last Thursday. She said the gunman who used a 9 mm handgun fired both standard bullets and hollow-point bullets, which often inflict more damage to bodies. A Fifth Third Bancorp employee and two contractors were killed before police killed the 29-year-old gunman. Sammarco said the gunman died from a shotgun blast to his head. She said one slain victim had a single gunshot wound, another had four, and another had seven. Two people survived their wounds, including a Fifth Third vice president who remains hospitalized with at least 12 gunshots. Sammarco had viewed video of the shootings, which she said was "really hard to watch" and has haunted her thoughts. She described Omar Enrique Santa Perez as "a guy who was intent on killing as many people as he could. And he had one weapon, but a whole lot of rounds of ammunition. He didn't hesitate to pull the trigger, empty his clip, reload, and do it again and again and again." Police are still investigating why he attacked in the building that headquarters Fifth Third. Sammarco said her office is awaiting some lab results. The shooter was carrying some 250 rounds of ammunition. Police felled him less than 5 minutes after he began shooting. Suspected shooter Omar Perez is seen in this mugshot from Broward County, Florida. Broward Sheriff's Office Sammarco said on Sept. 11, the anniversary of the 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States, it's appropriate to highlight the fast, heroic work of first responders in Cincinnati who she said saved "many, many lives." Hamilton County's coroner wore a new "Cincy Strong" T-shirt. Sammarco had met Prudhvi Kandepi, 25, a slain Fifth Third contractor, at a local Hindu temple. The two were both from Tenali, India, and spoke the same language, Telugu. She met Tuesday with friends of his, and the local Telugu Association of North America office is helping return the body to his home area. "I can't even imagine what they're going through," Sammarco said of his family and friends.<doc-sep>Investigators believe Perez had lived in Cincinnati since at least 2015. He had no local criminal history, although Isaac said he had a “brief misdemeanor criminal history in South Carolina and in Palm Beach County, Florida.” Suspect: Omar Enrique Santa Perez pic.twitter.com/p6D5ZmrRMM — Cincinnati Police Department (@CincyPD) September 7, 2018 Isaac said Perez had filed a lawsuit against NBC Universal and TD Ameritrade and that he might have planned to make his way to the nearby federal courthouse. He walked into several businesses in the area before he entered the Fifth Third Center around 9:06 a.m. and opened fire, Isaac said. Surveillance camera footage released Friday showed Perez indiscriminately shooting in the building’s lobby as unarmed security officers helped bystanders get to safety. >> See the surveillance camera footage (Warning: This video contains content that may be disturbing. Viewer discretion is advised.) Police said Thursday that Perez initially opened fire in a loading dock at the Fifth Third Center, but Isaac said that subsequent investigation revealed that two of the people shot by Perez actually fled to the loading dock area. Officers could hear shots being fired as they approached the building Thursday morning. Body camera footage showed the officers running toward the scene to engage the gunman. Four officers opened fire, shooting 11 rounds through the building’s large windows before Perez was subdued. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Bodycam footage of the incident. pic.twitter.com/PN4k3GE9nE — Cincinnati Police Department (@CincyPD) September 7, 2018 Isaac said Perez had been carrying a briefcase that held about 250 additional rounds of ammunition. He legally bought the Taurus 9mm semi-automatic handgun used in the attack last month in Cincinnati. After the shooting, police determined that Perez’s gun jammed at some point during the attack. He fired 35 rounds before he was shot and killed by police. The suspect fired 35 rounds and was carrying more than 200 rounds. pic.twitter.com/bxpTdoSsyV — Cincinnati Police Department (@CincyPD) September 7, 2018 The officers involved in the shooting were identified as Officer Jennifer Chilton, who joined the Cincinnati Police Department in 2008; Officer Antonio Etter, who joined CPD in 2002; Officer Eric Kaminsky, who joined CPD in 1997; and Police Specialist Gregory Toyeas, who joined CPD in 1990. “I had a chance to speak in-depth with three of the four and they’re all doing well,” Isaac said. “They know they did what they had to do. They were very, you know, very resolved that they were there to save lives and they were very committed to that. As the police chief, as a fellow police officer, as a citizen of this city -- I couldn’t be prouder of them.” Three people died in Thursday’s attack. Police have identified them as Richard Newcomer, 64; Prudhvi Raj Kandepi, 25; and Luis Calderon, 48. Two other people injured in the shooting remained hospitalized Friday. Cincinnati Mayor John Cranley praised police, 911 dispatchers and other first responders for their actions Thursday. “The police saved lives and we owe them all a huge debt of gratitude,” Cranley said. “We need to pray for peace and we also need to take the actions necessary to prevent crazy people from getting guns.” Update 6:20 p.m. EDT Sept 6: The Cincinnati Police Department released the identifies of the victims in the shooting rampage at a downtown banking center. CPD says families of victims in shooting have been notified. They are... Pruthvi Raj Kandepi, Richard Newcomer, Luis Felipe Calderón — Maytal Levi (@MaytalLeviWXIX) September 6, 2018 Update 4:50 p.m. EDT Sept 6: The shooter in the Cincinnati bank shooting has been identified as Omar Perez, 29, according to WLWT and NBC News, citing police sources. A neighbor of Perez’s described him as “a nice guy.” Here is what the woman who lives above this shooting suspect had to say to me and @DanGriffinWLWT She described him as a nice guy. @wlwt pic.twitter.com/fd15beds3J — Karin Johnson WLWT (@karinjohnson) September 6, 2018 Update 4:15 p.m. EDT Sept 6: One of the victims in the bank shooting in Cincinnati Thursday morning has been identified by his employer as Richard Newcomer, 64, who worked for the Rhode Island-based Gilbane Building Co., according to WCPO-TV. “Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family," company spokesman Wes Cotter said. "We are shocked and saddened by the events of today." 1st victim name here -> https://t.co/2RgXoSaxHz — Evan Millward (@EvanMillward) September 6, 2018 The identities of the other victims have not been released yet. Nor has the identity of the gunman. Hamilton County Prosecuting Attorney Joe Deters said the suspect had enough ammunition to kill 30 to 40 people. Deters also said that Cincinnati police officers arrived on the scene at the bank within three minutes of the dispatch call. It’s still unclear if police, who shot through the glass window in the lobby, killed the gunman or if he took his own life. Update 2:25 p.m. EDT Sept. 6: The identity of the gunman who opened fire Thursday has not been released, but police Lt. Steve Saunders told WCPO he was not a current or former employee of Fifth Third Bank. The man opened fire at a loading dock at the Fifth Third Center, the building that houses the bank’s headquarters, before continuing the shooting in the center’s lobby, police Chief Eliot Isaac said. Cincinnati Mayor John Cranley praised law enforcement for their quick actions to stop the gunman. Earlier he said a police bullet killed the gunman, although Isaac said it was unclear pending an autopsy. "Random mass shootings, which plague our Nation, are not normal and we as a Country can't allow them to be normalized," Cranley said. "This is an American problem, that we as Americans must solve by putting ideology last and human life first." Update 1 p.m. EDT Sept. 6: Officials with Fifth Third Bank shared sympathies for those affected by Thursday's shooting at the bank's headquarters building in downtown Cincinnati. “Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone caught up in this terrible event,” company officials said in a statement. “We continue to work with law enforcement as we ensure the safety of our employees and customers.” Update 11:35 a.m. EDT Sept. 6: Police said two people were injured in Thursday's deadly shooting at the Fifth Third Center in downtown Cincinnati. Officials with University of Cincinnati Medical Center said four people injured in the incident were taken to the hospital, identified only as three men and a woman. Two of the patients later died, officials said. Of the other two patients, one was in critical condition and the other in serious condition Thursday. UPDATE: UC Medical Center received four victims: three males and one female. Two are deceased, one in critical condition and one serious. All suffered gunshot wounds. — UC Health (@uc_health) September 6, 2018 Police Chief Eliot Isaac said officers found one person dead at the scene of Thursday’s shooting. Update 11:25 a.m. EDT Sept. 6: Police Chief Eliot Isaac said officers were called around 9:10 a.m. to respond to reports the shooting. He said a man, who was not identified, entered a loading dock at the Fifth Third Center and opened fire. The gunman moved to the lobby, where the shooting continued. He was confronted by officers, who returned fire, Isaac said. The man was killed, although Isaac said it was unclear whether he died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound or a police bullet. The scene was secure by 11 a.m. It was not immediately clear what prompted Thursday’s attack. Cincinnati Mayor John Cranley said the gunman was “actively shooting innocent victims.” He described the scene as “horrific.” Mayor Cranley offers thoughts and prayers to victims’ families, thanks first responders for their quick response. pic.twitter.com/UTNmQn7gft — City of Cincinnati (@CityOfCincy) September 6, 2018 Update 11 a.m. EDT Sept. 6: Police confirmed at a news conference Thursday that three people were killed when a gunman opened fire in Cincinnati. Two other people were hospitalized, according to authorities. The gunman, who has not been identified, also died, although authorities said it was not immediately clear whether he died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound or whether he was killed by a police bullet. Update 10:45 a.m. EDT Sept. 6: Ohio Gov.<doc-sep>
CINCINNATI -- A gunman opened fire Thursday morning in a building in the heart of Cincinnati in an attack that left him and three other people dead, police said. The shooting sent people scrambling across the city's Fountain Square amid cries of "shooter!" It happened at a 30-story building, home to the corporate headquarters for regional banker Fifth Third Bancorp and other businesses, including popular ice cream, pastry and sandwich shops. The bank building was locked down for most of the morning, and surrounding streets and sidewalks were closed off. Cincinnati Mayor John Cranley said the gunman was "actively shooting innocent victims" and that it was a "horrific" scene. Police Chief Eliot Isaac said the shooter opened fire at about 9:10 a.m. at the loading dock of the Fifth Third Bank building. Isaac said the gunman then entered the bank's lobby where he exchanged gunfire with police. It was unclear if the gunman shot himself or was shot by officers. "Our officers responded very quickly," Isaac said. "They engaged the threat, and they neutralized that threat; however, there was some tragedies that did occur ... You know, these are things that we see happening across the country, and we all have to be vigilant and prepared to deal with these situations." Emergency personnel and police respond to reports of an active shooter situation near Fountain Square Sept. 6, 2018, in downtown Cincinnati. AP Photo/John Minchillo The gunman was identified by police as Omar Enrique Santa Perez, 29. Fifth Third Bancorp said he was not a current or past employee, according to police Lt. Steve Saunders. He said police don't know yet why the gunman went to the building. Omar Enrique Santa Perez Cincinnati Police Saunders said more information was expected to be released Friday. Hamilton County prosecutors said the gunman was armed with a 9 mm gun and had no known local criminal record. Police later swarmed an apartment in North Bend, Ohio, a village some 15 miles west of Cincinnati. They didn't immediately explain the search. "So, a very horrific situation," Isaac said at the shooting scene. "We're in the very early stages" of the investigation. Federal and state agents were on the scene as police searched through the building. Michael Richardson, who works in the building, told The Cincinnati Enquirer that he was standing outside the entrance when he heard gunshots in the lobby. "I looked behind me and saw the guy -- he shot and then he shot again. After that I started running." Jessica Hanson, a contractor with the bank's concierge company, works on one of the lower floors overlooking Fountain Square. She said after repeatedly hearing shots, she went to the window and saw people running and ducking for cover as officers started shooting into the bank. A woman who works with her had taken the elevator down to get a drink. When the elevator doors opened, Hanson said her co-worker almost stepped on a man's body. She got back in the elevator and rode up to her floor, where Hanson said she was in complete shock and unable to form complete sentences. "Then we knew what was going on," Hanson said. Jaenetta Cook, who manages Servatii Bakery on the building's first floor, said she hurried to lock the door after the first two shots were fired. Then, she heard more that "sounded as if they were getting closer and closer." Cook said she and two other employees hid in the bathroom for the duration of the shooting. "I made it out to see my kids, to see another day," she said in relief. One of the victims died at the scene. Two more died at University of Cincinnati Medical Center. UC Health spokeswoman Kelly Martin said one victim remained there in critical condition. The hospital said on Twitter that another was upgraded to fair. All four taken to the hospital had gunshot wounds, Martin said. Cincinnati Mayor John Cranley said the gunman was "actively shooting innocent victims." The Fountain Square often hosts concerts, dancing, food trucks and other events around lunchtime or in the evenings and is neighbored by a hotel, restaurants and retail shops. "It could have been any one of us," Cranley said. He praised "the heroism" of police who ended the threat within seconds and the response of other emergency personnel. "It could have been much, much worse," Cranley said. Witnesses described a chaotic scene, with people running away in fear and confusion while hearing gunshots.