An individual reportedly opened fire inside a Manhattan skyscraper thatâs home to the offices of the NFL and asset manager Blackstone on Monday then died, the New York Police Department announced.
âAt this time, the scene has been contained and the lone shooter has been neutralized,â police commissioner Jessica Tisch wrote on X.
The shooter, allegedly armed with an assault rifle, injured a police officer and two civilians, reports The New York Post, citing law enforcement sources. The gunman barricaded himself on the buildingâs 33rd floor and was found dead with a self-inflicted gunshot wound, the paperâs sources added, though police havenât confirmed this publicly.
The officer who was shot, an off-duty police officer working security in the building, later died from their injuries, CNN reports.
The Independent has contacted the NYPD, the New York City mayorâs office, the New York governorâs office, and the New York Fire Department for more information.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams announced on X that an âactive shooter investigationâ was underway.
At least six people overall were shot, FOX 5 New York reports, citing police sources.
The suspect was male, possibly white, with a mustache and sunglasses. The man has been tentatively identified as a 27-year-old from Las Vegas, Nevada, without a prior serious criminal record, according to CNN law enforcement analyst John Miller.
The New York Police Department warned of âpolice activityâ at the Midtown office tower and urged the public to stay away.
The shooting occurred in the lobby of the building, NBC New York reports.
Large numbers of police were seen forming a perimeter around the building at 345 Park Avenue, and officers have also entered the office tower. The FBI is assisting with the response to the shooting, officials announced.
By around 7pm local time, individuals were seen walking out of the building in small groups with their hands raised. Employees working in the building wrote on Microsoft Teams they had locked themselves in their offices and hid from the gunman.
The building is currently on lockdown, ABC7 reports.
New York subways are temporarily skipping the Lexington Avenue / 53rd Street station in both directions as the law enforcement operation continues.
New York leaders condemned the shooting.
âDeeply disturbed by the horrific shooting in Midtown Manhattan,â House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York wrote on X. âPraying hard for the brave NYPD officer impacted and all other victims of this tragedy. May God watch over our city during this challenging moment.â
âHorrified by the shooting in Midtown,â added former New York governor and New York City mayoral candidate Andrew Cuomo. âIâm grateful for the courage of our NYPD and first responders, and my prayers are with the victims and their families.â
This is a breaking news story and will be updated with new information.
