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Binghamton Victims 'Died Seeking Better Lives'

Victim of civic center massacre hailed from 8 different countires

By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff

Posted Apr 6, 2009 8:38 AM CDT

(Newser) – The immigrants gunned down in Binghamton on Friday were from all corners of the world, the New York Times reports; they came together in the classroom where they, along with the killer, had been studying English. Two Americans—a teacher and a receptionist—were killed in the rampage. Four of the other 11 victims came from China, two came from Haiti, and the others were from Brazil, Iraq, Pakistan, the Philippines, and Vietnam.

The regular teacher of the class, who tells the Times that shooter Jiverly Wong was an intermittent and "fragile" student before he dropped out in March, was on vacation Friday; the teacher filling in for her was killed. The dead ranged in age from 22 to 72. The Iraqi victim, a mother of three, survived three bombings in her homeland before coming to the US last year. "She was to come to my graduation this year,” said one of her sons, a student at Binghamton High School. "She said, ‘I want to see you graduate in America."

Relatives of shooting victims Lan Ho and Long Huynh pray outside the American Civic Association on Sunday, April 5, 2009, in Binghamton, NY.
Relatives of shooting victims Lan Ho and Long Huynh pray outside the American Civic Association on Sunday, April 5, 2009, in Binghamton, NY.   (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
A police officer removes crime scene tape from the front of the American Civic Association in Binghamton, NY, Sunday, April 5, 2009.
A police officer removes crime scene tape from the front of the American Civic Association in Binghamton, NY, Sunday, April 5, 2009.   (AP Photo/Mike Groll)
Mustafa Alsalihi, whose mother was killed in Binghamton, attends a news conference at the Islamic Organization of the Southern Tier in Johnson City, NY, Sunday, April 5, 2009.
Mustafa Alsalihi, whose mother was killed in Binghamton, attends a news conference at the Islamic Organization of the Southern Tier in Johnson City, NY, Sunday, April 5, 2009.   (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
Omri Yigal tells members of the media that his wife, Dolores Yigal, a recent immigrant from the Philippines, was shot to death in Binghamton, NY, Saturday, April 4, 2009.
Omri Yigal tells members of the media that his wife, Dolores Yigal, a recent immigrant from the Philippines, was shot to death in Binghamton, NY, Saturday, April 4, 2009.   (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
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The Mayor of Binghamton, New York talks about the beginning of the healing process after the mass shooting.   (CNN Video)

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I don’t know what they hoped to do, but I know these were the kind of people you want in this country.
- Leroy Jackson, manager of the building where a Haitian couple killed in the attack lived

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COMMENTS
Showing 1 of 1 comment
Mad
Apr 6, 2009 5:22 AM CDT
No, the truth is Binghamton victims 'Died Waiting for the Police"

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