Motive for Virginia Beach massacre remains a mystery, but second investigation yields a clue

Nearly four months after the Virginia Beach shooting that claimed 12 lives, city authorities have yet to ascertain a motive for the deadly rampage, although an independent investigation seemed to point to a possible reason.

Police leaders from Virginia’s largest city on Tuesday presented the initial findings of their investigation into the May 31 massacre, in an effort to update the victims’ families and the public at large in a hearing at the City Council available via live streaming.

The presentation provided exhaustive details of the actions taken that day by DeWayne Craddock, the 40-year-old city engineer who launched the shooting barrage in Building 2 at the Municipal Center. Information was presented about his work history, relationships and other background.

None of that answered the question of what prompted Craddock to attack co-workers and strangers alike a few hours after submitting his resignation from a job he had held for nine years.

“We’re 116 days into this investigation. Each and every one of those days we have asked the question, ‘Why?’’’ Deputy Police Chief Patrick Gallagher said. “We’re still looking to determine motive.

“He shot people he knew and he shot people he did not know. In fact, he elected not to shoot people he had an opportunity to shoot.’’

Family and friends watch as the casket of Virginia Beach shooting victim Kate Nixon is wheeled to a hearse after a funeral service at St. Gregory The Great Catholic Church in Virginia Beach on June 6.
Family and friends watch as the casket of Virginia Beach shooting victim Kate Nixon is wheeled to a hearse after a funeral service at St. Gregory The Great Catholic Church in Virginia Beach on June 6.

Gallagher said Craddock, who was killed by police in what the officer described as a “horrific gun battle,’’ left behind no manifesto and displayed no pattern in his rampage, shooting 10 men and six women. Four survived.

Inquiries into the suspect’s finances, health, medication intake and social media activity provided no clues either, although Gallagher said Craddock had become distanced from his family after a 2017 divorce.

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The one red flag about a possible motive came not from the police department but from Hillard Heintze, the security firm hired to conduct an independent investigation at the behest of victims’ relatives dissatisfied with the explanations from city officials.

During an update of an inquiry expected to be completed Nov. 12, company CEO Arnette Heintze said its investigators heard numerous complaints from city government employees about a hostile work environment, especially for African Americans.

Craddock was black.

“These issues included allegations that African American employees were being treated differently, that they were often more subject to discipline than their counterparts, that they were less likely to be promoted than their counterparts,’’ Heintze said.

“Our team felt that the volume and nature of concerns raised might very well be impacting the overall workplace culture within city government. The concerns raised about a hostile work environment were in fact a key area of our investigation’s focus, as it relates to behaviors and motives that give rise to violence in the workplace.’’

Heintze said the company is now conducting a survey of all city employees that he hopes will shed light on work conditions.

Though city officials initially indicated the suspect’s work record showed a satisfactory performance and no disciplinary issues, Gallagher said that had changed in the last two years.

In 2017, Craddock was required to complete a performance-improvement plan, and in 2018 his evaluation said his work needed improvement. He also received a written reprimand from his supervisor for performance problems, but was expected to get a satisfactory evaluation this year.

Virginia Beach real estate agent Jason Nixon, whose wife, Kate, was murdered in the assault, was among the leading voices calling for an outside investigation, outraged after hearing the suspect being described as a fine employee.

On Tuesday, Gallagher said those interviewed for the investigation referred to him with terms that included "quiet, polite, nice guy and a good listener.''

Nixon said Kate had frequently complained about Craddock’s brusque manner and deficient work, raising her concerns with his superiors.

“It upsets me so much because my wife had written him up so many times to his boss,’’ Nixon told USA TODAY. “It was such a preventable event. There were certainly red flags with this guy, and HR (human resources) did nothing about it. From Day 1 I’ve always said this was about HR policies and procedures.’’

Those issues may go beyond the shooting suspect.

In the meantime, victims’ relatives are left to cope with their grief.

Debbie Langer Borato, the sister of shooting victim Michelle “Missy” Langer, said her sister’s death has caused “unspeakable pain.” She said the police update on their investigation did not answer any of her questions.

“I’m very angry,” she said. “They can’t find anything wrong with him, but they said he was reprimanded.”

Seeking closure after months of anguish, Nixon visited his wife’s office on Tuesday, the first day when family members were allowed into Building 2, which remains closed for everybody else.

“It was tough,” said Nixon, who sat on the front row during the presentation and came away dissatisfied. “I wrote a message on the wall. I told her we will always love her, and I told her we’d raise the girls (three young daughters) the way we talked about. I put their names on it, too. I wrote, ‘Kate, I love you. We’ll never forget you. I’ll make sure we get the truth and the facts out.’’’

Contributing: The Associated Press

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Virginia Beach shooting: Police don't have a motive, but clue emerges