Up to 13 people may have been killed Friday in a rampage by a gunman believed to be holding dozens of hostages at a civic center in upstate New York.
The gunman in reportedly dead and surviving hostages have been freed according to local media.
Other reports said four were shot at the American Civic Association building, where help is given to new immigrants to the US.
New York state Governor David Paterson confirmed only that ‘there are fatalities’ in the tragedy.
Reports said the gunman may have also taken between 20 and about 40 hostages in the civic center in the small city located 217 kilometres northwest of New York city, near the border with Pennsylvania.
Several hours into the terrifying standoff, police brought out two men with their hands secured behind their backs, local television and newspapers reported.
Local police would not comment on those reports or give details on casualty numbers, but a press conference was due to be held in the mid-afternoon.
The FBI, which joined local security forces at the scene, said it also had no immediate comment.
Television footage showed heavily armed police surrounding the building as officers carried out several stretchers, including one on which the victim was clearly still moving.
