© Guillermo Ratzlaff / ReutersPolice look on as the alleged shooter, Jeff Johnson, lies dead on the sidewalk after a shooting incident near the Empire State Building in New York City, Aug. 24, 2012.
The shooting set off chaos around one of the world's best-known landmarks at the height of the summer travel season and just after the morning rush hour. Police on their regular anti-terrorism duties in the highly touristed shopping area rushed to the scene.
"People were yelling 'Get down! Get down!'" said Marc Engel, who was on a bus in the area when he heard the shots. "It took about 15 seconds, a lot of 'pop, pop, pop, pop,' one shot after the other."
Engel saw the wounded scattered along the sidewalk, including one person "dripping enough blood to leave a stream."
Mayor Michael Bloomberg said some of the victims may have been hit by police bullets as they confronted the gunman.
"This was a terrible tragedy," Bloomberg told a press conference. "We are not immune to the national problem of gun violence."
Bloomberg has spoken out in recent weeks for gun control after mass shootings at a Sikh temple in Wisconsin and a theatre in Colorado, but many politicians have hesitated to approach the sensitive issue, especially in a national election year.
Police identified the gunman as Jeffrey Johnson, 58, a former designer of women's accessories who was laid off last year. They said they had little details yet about his background, including a criminal record.
Police Commissioner Ray Kelly said Johnson fired at the former colleague three times at close range. The two had traded accusations of harassment when Johnson worked there, he said. The victim was identified as Steven Ercolino, a vice-president at Hazan Import.
Johnson then walked away, but a construction worker who witnessed the encounter followed him and alerted police, officials said.
Surveillance video footage shows Johnson reaching into a bag, pulling out a .45-calibre pistol and pointing it at officers, Kelly said. The officers drew their weapons and started firing, killing Johnson, Kelly said.
Kelly initially said Johnson fired on officers, but police said later they were trying to determine whether Johnson actually fired. The two officers fired a total of 14 rounds, Kelly said.
Federal officials said the 9 a.m. shooting wasn't related to terrorism.
Construction worker Chris Ogden told the Daily News tabloid he was working on a scaffold above one entrance to the building when he saw someone in a suit and carrying a briefcase start shooting.
"He shot the guy in the head," Ogden told the newspaper. "The guy went down. He took a second shot when he was down."
Ogden said then casually walked away. "We were screaming from the top, 'It's the guy in the grey suit!'" Ogden said.
"We were just working here and we just heard bang, bang, bang!" said Mohammed Bachchu, 22, a worker at a nearby souvenir shop. He said he rushed out and saw seven people lying on the ground, covered in blood.
The brother of victim Erica Solar said she doesn't know who shot her in the back of the knee while she walked to get coffee on her way to work. "She just heard shots and she fell to the ground a couple of steps forward and noticed that she was shot," Louis Lleras said.
Rebecca Fox, 27, said she saw people running down the street and at first thought it was a celebrity sighting. Then she saw a woman shot in the foot and a man dead on the ground.
"I was scared and shocked and literally shaking," she said.
A body remained at the scene more than an hour after the shooting. Police scoured the area for bullets.
The Empire State Building anchors one of the city's busiest areas. The website for the building says about four million people visit the tower's observatory decks each year, and sidewalks outside the building bustle with people selling tickets for its attractions.
Many others are shoppers drawn to stores along both 34th Street and Fifth Avenue. The shooting occurred at their intersection. Streets around the immediate area remained closed at midday.
Source: The Associated Press
...the hands of the victim look as though they are handcuffed???? How did a handcuffed person become such a threat to Police officers???? I am beginning to tire of these stories - Police have training that provides them with a variety of methods - other than lethal force - with which to detain and restrain violent offenders....
Much Peace...to the Victim and Family...