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Binghamton Police Chief Joseph Zikuski said in a press conference Friday evening that the gunman likely died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound after going on a killing spree at the American Civic Association, which provides services for immigrants.

Four victims remained in critical condition Friday night.

When authorities found the gunman's body, he was originally identified as Jiverly Voong, 42, but police found that the man's original name was Jiverly Wong.

Authorities described Wong's attack as methodical, and say he barricaded the building's back door with his car and then walked in the front door shooting.

"The shooter, if it is who we believe he is, borrowed a vehicle to attend a class there. Preliminarily, he is no stranger to the civic association," said a law official.

Zikuski said Wong shot one of the center's receptionists dead and left another wounded. The injured woman pretended to be dead, then crawled under a desk and called 911.

Police arrived in two minutes, but by that time the gunman had entered a classroom where immigrants who were taking a citizenship test and opened fire, killing 12.

"Twenty-six people took refuge in the boiler room in the basement - a very trying time for them," said Zikuski. "We had to repeatedly reassure them over the matter of a few hours, 'Do not come out, we will come get you.' They were antsy."

A nearby high school was put in lockdown and apartments in the area were evacuated while SWAT teams surrounded the building.

In total, 37 people were forced to hide in terror before they were safely removed by police from the center.

"No screaming or yelling. Just silence, shooting, silence, shooting, silence," said survivor Zhanar Tokhtabayeva. "I was just hiding and I thought my life was finished."

Paterson arrived in Binghamton in the late afternoon, and expressed his shock at what he called a "senseless act of violence."

"For those who wanted to become citizens of the United States of America, who wanted to be part of the American Dream, so tragically may have had that hope thwarted today," said the governor.

He also blamed the media for initially reporting "erroneous information" regarding the gunman and number of victims, and said it only made a "strenuous situation" worse.

President Barack Obama said in a statement, "Michelle and I were shocked and deeply saddened to learn about the act of senseless violence in Binghamton, N.Y. today. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the victims, their families and the people of Binghamton."

"We don't yet know all the facts, but my administration is actively monitoring the situation and Vice President [Joe] Biden is in touch with Governor Paterson and local officials to track developments," continued Obama.

The civic center provides a crucial service to the small upstate city of about 47,000. Foreign-born people represent the second-largest population in Binghamton.

Although the company says they do not have record of it, initial reports said Wong worked for IBM, which has downsized in recent years.

The city's unemployment rate shot to over 11 percent in February.

Paterson stressed Friday that it would take a long process to identify the victims, and law enforcement officials were still investigating the gunman's motive.

In addition to the ammunition Wong was wearing, police also found two handguns and a hunting knife at the shooting site. On Friday, they searched Wong's home and confiscated computer equipment and a rifle case.