Witnesses hid in offices, under desks during Virginia Beach shooting: 'It felt like hours'

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WTVR) -- Megan Banton scrambled to call 911 when she realized the loud bangs at a municipal building in Virginia Beach, Virginia, were not a drill. Within seconds, all she could hear was yelling, screaming and muffled gunshots.

"I have an 11-month-old baby at home, and all I could think about was him and trying to make it home to him," Banton, an employee at the city's public utilities office told CNN affiliate WTKR.

Banton was in the second floor of the three-story brick building when police said a city worker opened fire in Building 2 of the city's Municipal Center on Friday, killing at least 12 people.

She and about 20 of her colleagues quickly pushed several desks against the doors in their office before rushing to hide in their bosses' office.

They hunkered down, hugging and holding each other, as the gunshots continued.

"I was trying to listen to what happen and listen to 911 (operator), and we just hoped it would be over soon," she said.

"It felt like hours," Banton added.

The shooting began as many of the up to 400 city workers in the building were still in the building and some residents tried to pay bills before the end of the day.