Thread by @MSNBC

12 people were killed in a mass shooting at the Virginia Beach Municipal Center on Friday afternoon.

Here are their stories.

on.msnbc.com/2If0ZbU

Robert "Bobby" Williams, from Chesapeake, Virginia, was the longest-serving employee among the victims, having worked as a special projects coordinator for 41 years. nbcnews.to/2MjHBzv

Laquita C. Brown had been a right-of-way agent in the city's public works dept. for 4.5 years.

She was the kind of person who would bring in cupcakes when people were having bad days at work and was never in a bad mood, says a friend from a previous job. nbcnews.to/2MjHBzv

Tara Welch Gallagher, from Virginia Beach, served as an engineer for 6 years. nbcnews.to/2MjHBzv

Alexander Mikhail Gusev, also from Virginia Beach, worked as a right-of-way agent for 9 years. nbcnews.to/2MjHBzv

Christopher Kelly Rapp, an engineer from Powhatan, had worked for Virginia Beach's public works department for only 11 months. nbcnews.to/2MjHBzv

Mary Louise Gayle, from Virginia Beach, served as a right-of-way agent for 24 years. nbcnews.to/2MjHBzv

Katherine A. Nixon, from Virginia Beach, had worked as an engineer within the public utilities department for a decade. nbcnews.to/2MjHBzv

Richard H. Nettleton, from Norfolk, was also an engineer who worked in the department for 28 years. He always wore a jacket and tie to work and was a devoted husband a father, says a longtime friend. nbcnews.to/2MjHBzv

Ryan Keith Cox had been an account clerk for over 12 years. nbcnews.to/2MjHBzv

Joshua O. Hardy had been an engineering technician for over 4 years. nbcnews.to/2MjHBzv

Michelle "Missy" Langer worked as an administrative assistant for 12 years. nbcnews.to/2MjHBzv

Herbert "Bert" Snelling was a contractor from Virginia Beach who was at the municipal building for a permit. He was the only one among the 12 killed who was not an employee of the city. nbcnews.to/2MjHBzv #NBCNewsThreads