The police said that the suspect, whose identity was not released to the public, was a long-term and current employee in the Virginia Beach City, open fired with a handgun at his colleagues in a public utility building.

The suspect was killed during gunfire with the police.

The police added that a police officer was injured, a bullet struck his vest.

The mass shooting happened at the Virginia Beach Municipal Center, which is home of a couple of government buildings of the City.

The center was placed in lockdown by the local police and all employees inside the building were evacuated.

During an interview with WAVY, a local news station in the city, Megan Banton an employee inside the building said, “We just heard people yelling and screaming at people to get down.”

One victim was shot outside the building who was in a vehicle and the others were in the government building.

Police Chief James Cervera said 4 police officers went inside the government building and found the gunman, they “immediately engaged” him.

The gunman was killed during the encounter.

Police Chief James Cervera described the incident as “horrific” and added that it was could “best be described as a war zone”.

He added, “I want you to know that during this gun battle, basically, the officers stopped this individual from committing more carnage in that building.”

Police Chief James Cervera said that they recovered a handgun and a rifle that was used by the shooter during the open fire.

The name of the suspect and the names of the 12 victims in the Virginia Beach Shooting have not been publicized.

Police Chief James Cervera said that the name of the suspect will be shared with the public after the family members of the victims get notified about it.

He added, “We’re going to mention his name once and then he will forever be referred to as ‘the suspect’ because our focus now is the dignity and respect to the victims in this case and to their families.”

Reports suggest that 4 people have been injured, which includes a police officer.

Police Chief James Cervera said that the life of the police officer was saved as he was wearing a bulletproof vest.

President Donald Trump has also been notified about the mass shooting.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) will also be helping in the investigation of the mass shooting.

According to Gun Violence Archive, a tracking website in the US, the Virginia Beach Shooting marks as the 150th mass shooting in the country this year.