A sign sits among flowers and mementos left at a makeshift memorial for victims of a mass shooting at a municipal building in Virginia Beach, Va. (Photo: Patrick Semansky/AP)
The reason why DeWayne Craddock shot up a Virginia Beach municipal building on Friday - killing 12 people, and severely wounding four others - may have died with him.
Even as families plan funerals on Monday, Craddock, 40, remains a puzzle to police.
He left no note, Internet message or manifesto, that police have announced. Police said he had no specific person as a target, shooting indiscriminately, including his first victim in a vehicle in the parking lot before he went inside.
He was ultimately shot and fatally wounded by police after a gun battle in the maze-like halls of a 1970s-era municipal building, Craddock at one time shooting through a closed door and wall.
Virginia Beach Police Chief James Cervera described Craddock as "disgruntled," but declined to say more about what may have precipitated the attack.
"We have more questions than we really have answers," he told reporters about two hours after the shooting on Friday.
Craddock declared his intention to quit by email in the morning and started shooting at his workplace of almost 15 years late that same afternoon, about 4 p.m., before his co-workers clocked out for the weekend.
Craddock's bosses said that he was an employee in good standing, with no disciplinary actions pending and was not going to be fired, but they are still looking into it.
"To the extent that the subject's employment status has anything do with these events, that will be part of the ongoing investigation," City Manager Dave Hansen told reporters.
Craddock's parents posted a handwritten note on the front door of their Yorktown, Va. home on Saturday expressing sorrow and prayers for the victims.
"We are grieving the loss of our loved one. At this time we wish to focus on the victims and the lives loss [lost] during yesterday's tragic event," the note said.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of those who loss [lost] their lives, and those recovering in the hospital."
The handscrawled note states no reason for the shooting.
The mass shooting in the coastal resort of Virginia Beach was the deadliest instance of U.S. gun violence since November, when a dozen people were slain at a Los Angeles-area bar and grill by a gunman who then killed himself.
An impromptu memorial set up at the municipal centre was visited by well-wishers on Sunday and media images show family and friends and holding hands and lighted candles at multiple churches from Baptist to Roman Catholic.
The Virginia Pilot reported that one well-wisher drove from Chicago to Virginia Beach with 12 white crosses, one each for the victims. (Reuters)
Patricia Olds rests her hands on a cross bearing the name of Olds' coworker, LaQuita Brown, a victim of a mass shooting at a municipal building in Virginia Beach, Va., before carrying the cross to a nearby makeshift memorial, June 2, 2019. (Photo: Patrick Semansky/AP)
Patricia Olds, a coworker of LaQuita Brown, a victim of a mass shooting at a municipal building in Virginia Beach, Va., is comforted before carrying a cross bearing Brown's name to a nearby makeshift memorial, June 2, 2019. (Photo: Patrick Semansky/AP)
A member of the FBI walks down a ramp to enter a municipal building that was the scene of a shooting, Sunday, June 2, 2019, in Virginia Beach, Va. (Photo: Patrick Semansky/AP)
Community members hold hands and pray around the 12 crosses at the memorial located by Building 11 of the Municipal Center, June 2, 2019, in Virginia Beach, Va. (Photo: Sarah Holm/The Virginian-Pilot via AP)
Rabbi Israel Zoberman, left, embraces churchgoer Pamela Johnson after a vigil at Piney Grove Baptist Church, June 2, 2019, in response to a mass shooting at a municipal building in Virginia Beach, Va. (Photo: Patrick Semansky/AP)
Del. Kelly Fowler holds her daughter Sophie, 6, in front of the row of crosses at the memorial located by Building 11 of the Virginia Beach Municipal Center, June 2, 2019, in Virginia Beach, Va. Twelve crosses were placed at the memorial to honor the 12 victims of the mass shooting that took place at the center several days earlier. (Photo: Sarah Holm/The Virginian-Pilot via AP)
A law enforcement official stands at an entrance to a municipal building that was the scene of a shooting, June 1, 2019, in Virginia Beach, Va. A longtime city employee opened fire at the building Friday before police shot and killed him, authorities said. (Photo: Patrick Semansky/AP)
After lighting 12 candles, Veronica Coleman leads the congregation in prayer during a vigil for Ryan Keith Cox at the Piney Grove Baptist Church in Virginia Beach, Va., June 2, 2019. (Photo: Rob Ostermaier/AP)
Law enforcement officials work outside a municipal building that was the scene of a shooting, June 1, 2019, in Virginia Beach, Va. A longtime city employee opened fire at the building Friday before police shot and killed him, authorities said. (Photo: Patrick Semansky/AP)
People gather to pray during a vigil in response to a fatal shooting at a municipal building in Virginia Beach, Va., Saturday, June 1, 2019. (Photo: Patrick Semansky/AP)
American flags that are part of a makeshift memorial stand at the edge of a police cordon in front of a municipal building that was the scene of a shooting, Saturday, June 1, 2019, in Virginia Beach, Va. DeWayne Craddock, a longtime city employee, opened fire at the building Friday before police shot and killed him, authorities said. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)
Renee Gathers is overcome with emotions during a vigil to honor the victims of the mass shooting on June 1, 2019 in Virginia Beach, Va. (Photo: Kristen Zeis/The Virginian-Pilot via AP)
Anthony Moore and Kaitlyn Mitchell, of Virginia Beach, Va., embrace during a vigil for the victims of the mass shooting June 1, 2019 in Virginia Beach, Va. DeWayne Craddock, a longtime city employee, opened fire at the municipal building Friday before police shot and killed him, authorities said. (Photo: Kristen Zeis/The Virginian-Pilot via AP)
Community members pray during a vigil for the victims of the mass shooting at the Bridge Church, Saturday, June 1, 2019 in Virginia Beach, Va. DeWayne Craddock, a longtime city employee, opened fire at the municipal building Friday before police shot and killed him, authorities said. (Jonathon Gruenke/The Virginian-Pilot via AP)
Virginia State Troopers stand outside Princess Anne Middle School on May 31, 2019, in Virginia Beach, Va. (Photo: Jonathan Gruenke/The Virginian-Pilot via AP)
Family members gather outside the Princess Anne Middle School in Virginia Beach, Va, May 31, 2019. (Photo: Vicki Cronis-Nohe/AP)
Emergency vehicles fill the parking lot at the Princess Anne Middle School in Virginia Beach, Va, on May 31, 2019. (Photo: Vicki Cronis-Nohe)
A police officer directs traffic away from the intersection of Princess Anne Road and Nimmo Parkway following a shooting at the Virginia Beach Municipal Center on May 31, 2019, in Virginia Beach, Va. (Photo: Kaitlin McKeown/The Virginian-Pilot via AP)
Police work the scene where eleven people were killed during a mass shooting at the Virginia Beach city public works building, May 31, 2019 in Virginia Beach, Va. (Photo: L. Todd Spencer/The Virginian-Pilot via AP)
Emergency vehicles respond near the intersection of Princess Anne Road and Nimmo Parkway following a shooting at the Virginia Beach Municipal Center on May 31, 2019, in Virginia Beach, Va. (Photo: Kaitlin McKeown/The Virginian-Pilot via AP)
Police work the scene where eleven people were killed during a mass shooting at the Virginia Beach city public works building, May 31, 2019 in Virginia Beach, Va. (Photo: L. Todd Spencer/The Virginian-Pilot via AP)
Police work the scene where eleven people were killed during a mass shooting at the Virginia Beach city public works building, May 31, 2019 in Virginia Beach, Va. (Photo: L. Todd Spencer/The Virginian-Pilot via AP)
A police officer stands out in front of City Hall next to the building where eleven people were killed during a mass shooting at the Virginia Beach city public works building, May 31, 2019 in Virginia Beach, Va. (Photo: L. Todd Spencer/The Virginian-Pilot via AP)
People exit Princess Anne Middle School, where friends and relatives were reuniting with loved ones who were in a building during a shooting, as officers stand outside Friday evening, May 31, 2019, in Virginia Beach, Va. (Photo: Jonathan Gruenke/The Virginian-Pilot via AP)
Police work the scene where eleven people were killed during a mass shooting at the Virginia Beach city public works building, May 31, 2019 in Virginia Beach, Va. (Photo: L. Todd Spencer/The Virginian-Pilot via AP)
A police chaplain heads toward Princess Anne Middle School in Virginia Beach, Va, on Friday, May 31, 2019. (Photo: Vicki Cronis-Nohe/AP)
Virginia Beach Chief of Police James Cervera speaks during a press conference about a shooting that left eleven dead and six injured at the Virginia Beach Municipal Center on May 31, 2019 in Virginia Beach, Va. (Photo: Kaitlin McKeown/The Virginian-Pilot via AP)
A police officer blocks an entrance to the Virginia Beach Municipal Center off of Princess Anne Road following a shooting May 31, 2019 in Virginia Beach, Va. (Photo: Kaitlin McKeown/The Virginian-Pilot via AP)
Police work the scene of a mass shooting at the Virginia Beach city public works building May 31, 2019 in Virginia Beach, Va. (Photo: L. Todd Spencer/The Virginian-Pilot via AP)
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