BINGHAMTON, N.Y. (AP) âÄî The man who opened fire in an immigrant center, killing 13 people before taking his own life, felt he was persecuted by police, couldn’t accept his “poor life” and was intent on killing himself and at least two other people, according to a letter mailed to a television station the day of the massacre. The letter’s authenticity could not immediately be verified Monday. It was mailed to News 10 Now, in Syracuse, and postmarked Friday, the day Wong went into the American Civic Association community center and started shooting. Part of the letter reads: “I am Jiverly Wong shooting the people.” The letter was dated March 18, more than two weeks before the shooting, which occurred in a neighborhood of homes and small businesses. It included photos of Wong smiling with two guns, a gun permit and his driver’s license. The letter ends with him saying he can’t “accept my poor life,” that he is taking on the job of a judge and will “cut my poor life.” He writes “at least two people with me go to return to the dust of the earth.” Police speculated Wong, who was ethnically Chinese but was from Vietnam, was angry over losing a job and frustrated about his poor English skills. The letter reads, “I am sorry I know a little English.” It indicates a delusional man obsessed with unidentified police he says taunted him and tortured him, even going into his room, watching him sleep and touching him while he slept. The letter says police stole money from his wallet and stopped their cars in front of him 32 times in efforts to make him crash into them. “I never hit the car,” the letter states. In a statement, the city of Binghamton, which is about 140 miles northwest of New York City, said it was reviewing the letter as evidence in the investigation. Police Chief Joseph Zikuski told the TV station police would be asking mental health professionals to analyze the letter. He said behavioral experts from the FBI suggested “something like this might happen.” “It’s not a complete surprise to us whatsoever,” he said. News 10 Now said it received the letter Monday. In staccato bursts, the letter writer strings together a tale of police harassment following him from California to New York. “Many time from 1990 to 1997 at the day time … cop exploit unknow English and went to my house knock the door for harass and domineer,” it reads. “Of course during that time cop coined something was not true about me and spread a rumour nasty like the California cop.” The writer expresses frustration over losing his job at a vacuum manufacturer. “Right now I still get unemploment benefit of the company Shop Vac Endicott,” he says. “New York State Department of Labor was cheat and unpaid from December 1st 2008 to December 28th 2008 I already claim weekly benefit from that date.” The letter rambles disjointedly. “Let talk about when I live in California,” it reads. “Such as…cop used 24 hours the technique of ultramodern and camera for burn the chemical in my house. For switch the channel time … For adjust the fan. For made me unbreathable. For made me vomit. For connect the music into my ear.” There are passages of pure politeness: “Please continue second page thank you,” the writer instructs. But the letter ends with dark foreboding. “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. “Already impartial now..cop bring about this shooting. cop must responsible.” The letter, neatly written in capital letters, ends with: “And you have a nice day.”
Letter said to be from NY killer forecast slayings
Published April 6, 2009
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