New York City officials confirm that multiple people were shot this morning when a gunman opened fire outside the Empire State Building in Midtown Manhattan. The gunman was shot and killed by police.
One person was killed in addition to the shooter and none others were wounded in a shooting outside the landmark Empire State Building in New York City Friday, according to a police source who spoke with Reuters.
Police Commissioner Ray Kelly identified the gunman as Jeffrey Johnson and the victim as a former co-worker at Hazan Imports where Johnson worked until being laid off last year.
Authorities responded within minutes to reports of gunfire at 34th Street and Fifth Avenue. Reports from the scene say several streets in the area are currently blocked to traffic.
An FBI spokesman confirms that FBI agents are on the scene in addition to NYPD officers.
Witnesses in the area reported hearing up to nine gunshots shortly after 9 a.m. Aliyah Imam told Fox 5 News that the gunman was "shooting indisciminately at people" and that a woman standing next to her fell to the ground as she was shot in the hip.
Adrianne Lapar, an employee who works in the building, told Reuters, "People started running, saying somebody has a gun, so I just ran the other way. I was scared."
The incident occurred at a very busy time and location. The Empire State Building provides office space to over 20,000 workers in addition to being a popular tourist destination with over 10,000 visitors each day. When completed in 1931, it was the tallest building in New York City until it was surpassed by the World Trade Center in 1972. After the Twin Towers fell September 11, 2001, the Empire State Building was once again the tallest building.
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