The Virginia Beach shooter quits his "personal reasons" before Rampage: NPR

The names of the victims cover a portion of a vase of flowers in a makeshift memorial intended for victims of a massive shootout in a Virginia Beach, Virginia municipal building on Sunday.

Patrick Semansky / AP

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Patrick Semansky / AP

The names of the victims cover a portion of a vase of flowers in a makeshift memorial intended for victims of a massive shootout in a Virginia Beach, Virginia municipal building on Sunday.

Patrick Semansky / AP

Hours before entering his workplace and setting off a series of gunfire that claimed the lives of 12 people, the Virginia Beach shooter wrote his boss an email in two sentences saying that He resigned for "personal reasons," according to a copy of the letter to city officials. released on Monday.

"I want to officially put my two weeks notice," writes DeWayne Craddock. "It was a pleasure to serve the city, but for personal reasons, I must take up my duties."

The new document does not shed light on his possible motives or his state of mind just before the unleashing, but city officials view the letter as evidence that the suspect did not provide any information. 39 clues about his violent plans before executing them.

Julie Hill, a spokeswoman for the City of Virginia Beach, called the letter "banal", pointing out that the suspect's written words "did not contain any indication of what actions he would do later in the day".

Investigators are still looking for a motive in the shooting that ended with 11 government employees and a contracted contractor and four others injured. The 40-year-old gunman, who had worked for the city as a civil engineer for 9 years, was killed in a shooting with the police. Among the dead, there were two supervisors in the shooter's city department, but officials pointed out that nothing in the investigation up to now suggests that Craddock specifically targeted anyone. Instead, the authorities claimed that he had unloaded dozens of bullets "indiscriminately".

The authorities say that in addition to carrying two .45 caliber handguns with him, the shooter had extended ammunition stores and a suppressor device meant to stifle the sound of gunfire.

With law enforcement officials still confused about what triggered the violence, the sunny climate of Virginia Beach has sometimes been bleak.

Crowds of people in mourning have laid flowers in front of the entrance of the municipal building in memory of the victims. Teddy bears, white crosses and other expressions of sorrow have accumulated to give expression to the sorrow of the community.

Some wondered if additional guards and metal detectors in government buildings could have made the difference, but standing close to a memorial, Virginia Beach Mayor, Bobby Dyer, said residents of the city ​​said that it was not to increase security.

"We can not let this horrific incident define us because you're watching where people are vulnerable, movie theaters, shopping malls and all, that's thankfully an unfortunate anomaly," Dyer said. "We are going back to Virginia Beach."

At another nearby ceremony, dozens of employees of Virginia Public School wore blue, the color of the city's flag and a wink at the center of the city. ocean for this seaside community, to honor those who have been killed.

The principal of the school, Aaron Spence, declared that he struggled with the insaneity of the tragedy.

"We had not and could not imagine what happened on Friday," he said. "Fathers and mothers, daughters and sons, brothers and sisters, neighbors, 12 people came to a building next to ours on Friday and they did not go home, and they will never go home."

At a press conference held last weekend, City Manager Dave Hansen told reporters that the shooter had not been forced to resign. Hansen said his colleagues had not expressed any concerns about Craddock before shooting.

"He was in good standing in his department and there was no discipline issue going on," Hansen said.

Business will resume Tuesday at the government complex where the violent attack took place. Officials say that there will be a strong police presence. At Building # 2, however, the yellow crime scene band will remain in place, with federal investigators seeking additional evidence.

"There is an emotional challenge and a logistical challenge to all this," said the mayor. "It's the beginning of a very long journey.