Jiverly Wong claimed police and his 'poor life' drove him to open fire at centre in Binghamton, New York, killing 13 people

This article is more than 11 years old

This article is more than 11 years old

A Vietnamese man who shot dead 13 people in a New York state immigration centre before killing himself sent a letter to a television station before his killing spree, blaming police and his "poor life" for his actions.

The letter (pdf) is dated 18 March but was posted last Friday, the day Jiverly Wong walked into the American Civic Association centre in Binghamton and carried out his indiscriminate attack.

It reveals Wong's anger with undercover police, whom he accuses of harassing him, and talks of how his life had deteriorated since losing his job.

He signs off the handwritten two-page letter with the stock American phrase, "have a nice day". It was received by the News 10 Now channel yesterday.

The letter opens: "I am Jiverly Wong Shooting the people. The first I want to say sorry I know a little English. I hope you understand all of this. Of course you need to know why I shooting? Because undercover cop gave me a lot of ass during 18 years."

It goes on to say: "Undercover cop usual coined some nasty was not true about me and spread a rumour to the receiver and some people know me conduce toward many people prejudiced and selfish to me ... cop made me lost my job ... cop put me became poor."

Wong had recently lost his job and was receiving welfare benefits. This, it seems, was the last straw.

"Any way I can not accepted my poor life. Before I cut my poor life I must oneself get a judge job for make an impartial with undercover cop by at least two people with me go to return to the dust of earth," he wrote.

"Already impartial now ... cop bring about this shooting ... cop must responsible. And you have a nice day."

The letter and other items have been turned over by News 10 Now to the FBI for analysis.

New York police officially identified the bespectacled gunman as Jiverly Voong, 41, of Vietnamese descent, who legally changed his name to Wong.

In a TV interview broadcast in the US yesterday, Wong's sister, said: "I can see that he was very depressed from losing his job and he was very frustrated with his English-speaking skills."

The woman, identified only as Nga, added: "He didn't share any of his thoughts and feelings, and he kept all of his frustration inside and didn't want to share with anybody else in the family."

Until early March, Wong had been taking classes at the American Civic Association. On Friday morning, carrying two handguns and wearing a bulletproof vest, Wong blocked the centre's back doors with his car and walked into the front of the building.

He shot two receptionists, killing one, then strode into a classroom where an English lesson was being held and shot dead another 12 people before turning the gun on himself. The dead included four Chinese nationals and a Filipino woman.

The alarm was raised by the surviving receptionist who played dead after being shot in the stomach.