Survivors of the American Civic Association shootings are starting to share their stories.

41 people escaped Friday's rampage.

Action News Reporter Julianne Sweeney spoke with some of them earlier today.

She joins us LIVE from outside the ACA in Binghamton.

Julianne?

We're outside the ACA on Front Street, where you can see people have left flowers, balloons, and notes.

The memorial honors the 13 people killed during Friday's shootings.

Many of them were immigrants taking English classes at the center.

Today we heard first hand accounts from those who survived anxious hours inside.

"Very quickly, 5 bangs...bang, bang, bang....again, again. And, everyone just looked at each other and ran."

Teacher Priscilla Pease recalls the moment Jiverly Wong opened fire inside the ACA.

Pease was teaching English in a basement classroom.

She and her students ran and hid in a nearby boiler room.

19 year old Mahmoud Ajour of Jordan put his back to the door to block out the gunman.

"Save the people...me, no problem," said Ajour

The sound of gunshots stopped within minutes, followed by silence.

Afraid to make noise, the class gestured to communicate with one another.

26 people stayed in the boiler room for more than 3 hours.

While they spoke to police by phone, they had no idea what was unfolding upstairs.

"I never, I see to my family, It was terrible in your mind" said Edjar Alarcon of Peru.

"One of our teachers...she was so brave I think. She build their confidences, and she did a lot," said Athar Mahmood of Pakistan.

41-year old Wong killed 13 people and himself.

These survivors say they did not know the former ACA student

Still, they're left to search for answers.

"Everyone says why did this man do it? And, we just...there's no answer."

Earlier today, people gathered at Davis College in Johnson City.

It was the first time, many of the survivors had seen each other since the shootings.

They say it gave them a chance to hug and cry and grieve together.

And, say they're hopeful they'll soon return to this building and begin to pick up the pieces.

Reporting LIVE in Binghamton, Julianne Sweeney, WBNG-TV, Action News.