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Police kill gunman in shooting outside Empire State Building
Read the full story and developments in the investigation on CNN.com. For local coverage, visit WPIX, WCBS and NY1.
Scroll down to catch up on the events as they unfolded.
[Updated at 3:19 p.m. ET] Two patients who were brought to New York-Presbyterian Hospital Friday have been discharged and one has been admitted, the hospital's public affairs office said in a statement.
The three people were brought to New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center Emergency Department as a result of a shooting outside the Empire State building shortly after 9 a.m., the hospital said.
Other victims were brought to Bellevue Hospital after the shooting, which police said left eight wounded and two dead, including the gunman.
Police initially said nine bystanders were wounded in an exchange of gunfire between shooter Jeffrey Johnson and police. That number was later revised to eight.
Police killed Johnson as he pulled a gun on them while trying to flee the scene where he fatally shot a former coworker, Police Commissioner Ray Kelly said.
The gunman apparently had a longstanding dispute with the victim over workplace harassment allegations, police said. Both men had filed prior complaints.
[Updated at 12:16 a.m. ET] New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg praised police and civilians for their quick response to a shooting outside the Empire State Building on Friday morning, which left two dead and nine injured.
"There is no doubt that the situation would've been even more tragic except for the extraordinary acts of heroism," Bloomberg said in a media conference. "New York City is the safest big city in this country but we are not immune to the national problem of gun violence."
Gunman Jeffrey Johnson, 53, killed one person before he was shot to death outside the busy tourist destination on 34th Street and Fifth Avenue in a chaotic scene just after 9 a.m., Police Commissioner Ray Kelly said. In addition to being home to a popular tourist destination in Midtown Manhattan, the area is also a busy commercial district.
"I saw people running and I didn't know what happened. I thought it was a celebrity spotting," said witness Rebecca Fox, who was on her way to work when the shootings broke out. "It was a very surreal scene."
Fast Facts: The Empire State Building
The victim was Johnson's former coworker at Hazan Imports, where Johnson was a designer of women's accessories until being laid off last year.
As Johnson attempted to flee the scene, a construction worker across the street alerted two police officers, who pursued him up West 33rd Street, Kelly said. As Johnson pulled out a .45 caliber pistol, the officers opened fire, killing Johnson. It was unclear if Johnson managed to shoot a round.
Nine others were wounded or grazed in the exchange of gunfire, Kelly said. They were taken to local hospitals where they are expected to recover.
"Some may have been accidentally shot by police officers," Kelly said.
Photos and messages from Twitter and other digital platforms that appear to be related to the shooting outside the Empire State Building are being collected by CNN.com social media producer Dorrine Mendoza on this Storify page. CNN editors are working to verify this information and will be updating throughout the day.
[Updated at 11:26 a.m. ET] A gunman fatally shot a former coworker in the head outside the Empire State Building Friday morning before he was killed by police officers, New York Police Commissioner Ray Kelly said.
The suspect, 53-year-old Jeffrey Johnson, was a "disgruntled former employee" of a business near the Empire State Building, Kelly said. As he tried to flee the scene, a construction worker alerted two police officers, who pursued him down 33rd Street, Kelly said.
Johnson pulled a .45 caliber gun on the approaching police officers but it not clear if he actually shot any rounds as police opened fire on him, Kelly said.
Nine people were wounded or grazed in the crossfire, Kelly said.
"Some may have been accidentally shot by police officers," Kelly said.
[Updated at 11:08 a.m. ET] The Empire State Building is fully operational after ten people were shot outside the popular tourist destination this morning, leaving at least two dead.
Building representatives released a statement saying the New York Police Department is concluding its investigation that occurred shortly after 9 a.m.
[Updated at 11:08 a.m. ET] New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg is expected to speak soon after a shooting outside the Empire State Building Friday morning left at least two dead, including the suspected gunman.
A witnessed said they saw a shooter with a "large gun"
[Updated at 10:40 a.m. ET] New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg is expected to speak at 11 a.m. after a shooting outside the Empire State Building Friday morning left at least two dead, including the suspected gunman.
Watch the news conference live on CNN TV, on CNN.com or on your CNN mobile app.
• There is no apparent link to terrorism, a law enforcement official said.
• Are you there? Share your story
• Police shot the suspect, whose body is still lying outside the building covered in a sheet, witnesses said.
• A woman was also killed in the shooting, which occurred as people were lining up to gain entry to the busy tourist destination on 34 Street and Fifth Avenue.
• An elevator worker from inside the Empire State Building ran outside and began chasing the alleged shooter, CNN producer Rose Arce said. At some point police, who were apparently inside the building, were alerted and chased and the alleged shooter.
• Photos and messages from Twitter and other digital platforms that appear to be related to the shooting outside the Empire State Building are being collected by CNN.com social media producer Dorrine Mendoza on this Storify page. CNN editors are working to verify this information and will be updating throughout the day.
[Updated at 10:33 a.m. ET] The body of the alleged shooter is lying outside the entrance to the Empire State Building after a shooting broke out Friday morning, leaving at least two dead, New York City officials said.
A woman was also killed in the shooting, which occurred as people were lining up to gain entry to the busy tourist destination.
An elevator worker from inside the Empire State Building ran outside and began chasing the alleged shooter, CNN producer Rose Arce said. At some point police, who were apparently inside the building, were alerted and chased and the alleged shooter.
Arce talked to several international tourists who were standing around. "They were completely stunned by what happened and were screaming," Arce reports.
[Updated at 10:17 a.m. ET] Ten people were shot outside the Empire State Building, leaving two dead, including the gunman, New York City officials said.
A witness told CNN she saw a man lying in the middle of the street surrounded by police.
"I saw blood on the sidewalk," Rebecca Fox said. "It was a very surreal scene."
[Updated at 10:09 a.m. ET] A suspect started shooting outside the Empire State Building this morning, killing at least one person, New York city officials say.
The suspect had a "large gun," a witness told CNN.
[Updated at 9:55 a.m. ET] - At least 10 people were shot Friday in front of the Empire State Building in New York Friday morning, the New York Office of Emergency Management said.
A suspect in the shooting was shot and killed by police, New York police said.
Authorities converged on the building around 9 a.m. after reports of gunfire.
A witness told CNN's Rose Arce that the gunman ran after and shot a man in the head. An unarmed guard chased the gunman away, the witness told Arce.
Police have closed several several streets around 5th Avenue and 34th Street in Manhattan.
New York resident Max Kaplan, 22, said he heard at least nine gunshots. He said several ambulances have arrived at the scene.
"We're all very shaken up at the office," he said.
The Empire State Building is one of the most famous skyscrapers in the world, and one of New York City's best-known tourist attractions.
Each year, about 4 million people visit the building's two observation decks. At more than 1,453 feet tall, the landmark building reaches more than a quarter-mile into the sky.
soundoff (3,090 Responses)
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0.3% of the US population will be murdered with a firearm.
And over 50% of people on the Internet make up their own wild statistics.
I blame gun control...if everyone had been aremed with ar-15s, this would have ended differently...and the elevator guy wouldn;t have had to run as far.
New York has become a very safe city. The crime data proves that. That does not mean that a mad person can't do what this guy did. Time will tell what the motive was.
This is just insane. I'm not paranoid but I really don't feel safe any more. I could get shot fetching some milk from the grocery store or, apparently just walking down the street.
Frankly, I feel about as safe in the US as I would in a war zone. Its really getting to that point.
This guy was carrying a Weapon of Mass Destruction that was made in the USA.
How many more shootings before we at least mitigate the mass killings with control of automatic weapons? We simply cannot go on like this. It's becoming the Wild West in places that were never like the Wild West 100 years ago.
Automatic weapons are extraordinarily difficult to obtain in the US (legally), you must submit to a MUCH more thorough background test, have the local sheriff sign off/give you permission, and the government comes in for regular checks and can take it away at will. Also I believe there is a hefty fee you have to pay as well.
Guns don't kill people...People who have guns kill people.
Guns don't push the public to be allowed in the hands of people....The NRA push the public to allow guns to be in the hands of people. Only Law enforcement should have guns. Citizens have the right to use their "bare arm" and hand to pick up the phone and call law enforcement in the time of need.
Right, and if an armed intruder comes into my home you propose I do this? or maybe I should run away and hope I'm faster? Some of us live in an area where police (local and state) take a long time to respond, I'd rather have something to defend myself when I need it right away as opposed to calling the police in front of an armed burglar and hope he's not intent on harming me.
There is a gun an in NYC. Did you notice? Only the gunman had one. Take notice.
Civilian firearms are banned in NYC so you think its fair that a criminal can and still will get a gun and hurt people and regular upstanding citizens should be left to hope that a police officer is standing next to them when something like this happens? you are clueless, fortunalty only 1 life was lost which is 1 too many and had a law abiding citizen been carrying at the time the shooter could have been neutralized much quicker stopping further injury. I am so glad i already have a permit in the state i live in because i never want to be on a street corner or trapped in a movie theater with a lunatic and have no way to defend myself or those around me. Re-evaluate your opinions and put yourself on that street corner or in that theater and tell me you will tell yourself "im so glad i dont have a weapon" as your peering down the barrel of a gun held by a criminal...
Why stop there? Why not let the government authorize sending a pistol to everyone along with their Voter ID. Take up your civil duty, vote and bear arms! Disgusting.
Same thing as above: There is a gun ban in NYC. The gunman had one. The people he shot didn't. Get the hint.
Owning a firearm does not compel one to commit crimes. Your ignorance is amazing. In order for a upstanding citizen to obtain a firearm or permit there are appropriate channels that ensure proper safety measures are taught to avoid incidences of violence or loss of life. I own a gun and somehow i am not compelled to randomly shoot people, what a thought!!! Criminals will always have weapons and your solution is to take the right away for citizens to protect themselves from these lunatics? That logic is terrible and will lead to criminals having a higher success in crimes if they know they cannot be harmed by their victim. Rediculous.
why are so many people too defensive about gun control, really what are they afraid of.
Too many guns, how can you argue this. How many people have been shot in the past two months in the US? When you run that number and compare how many guns we have per person in this country versus any other country, we have a seriously gun problem. Only ignorant people argue against this.
But those ignorant people have guns. Try arguing with them and see.
You are ignorant if you think gun control solves the problem – go hug a tree
Guns don't kill people...People who have guns kill people.
Guns don't push the public to be allowed in the hands of people....The NRA push the public to allow guns to be in the hands of people. Only Law enforcement should have guns. Citizens have the right to use their "bare arm" and hand to pick up the phone and call law enforcement in the time of need.
The world needs Batman
open gun laws, people will be less likely to try and hurt others if they believe they will be shot for it.
They do this in Alaska. Crime rate went DOWN! If you know you may be shot while committing a crime, you may be less likely to do it!
Most of the time in cases like this one, the shooter is shot. They rarely make it out alive. Given this trend, surely the shooter knew the odds of NOT being shot were against him yet he still chose to do this. So it doesn't appear that your theory is valid. These folks aren't afraid of being shot. They expect to be.
but if the shooter thought the people he was targeting, which according to the newscast he had targets, its very possible one of the 10 victims could have shot him before more people were hurt.
Statistics shows that it works exactly opposite to what you assume. More access to guns => more dead.
What this happened in progressive NY, not backwards TX? Who knew?
Wow... NY is like a magnet for crime and terrorism. But hopefully the new soft drink refill ban law will fix all that. : )
NYC is one of the top safest big cities in the world. This is HIGHLY unusual for NYC. Read the real facts and history of law enforcement in NYC. You are mistaken.