Gunman on shooting spree, 10 shot, 2 dead near New York's Empire State Building

Two people were killed and at least eight were wounded in a shooting outside the landmark Empire State Building in New York City on Friday, a New York police source said.

A 53-year-old fashion accessories designer, disgruntled over being fired a year ago, shot and killed a 41-year-old former co-worker three times with a .45 caliber handgun on a sidewalk near the landmark building, officials said.

Police returned fire, killing the shooter and wounding several bystanders, all of whom were expected to survive, Mayor Michael Bloomberg told a news conference.

Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly identified the shooter as Jeffrey Johnson of Manhattan, who had worked at Hazan Imports across the street from the skyscraper. The shooting took place outdoors, at the height of the tourist season by one of New York City's most popular attractions

A white tarp covered what was believed to be a body in front of the entrance to the office building but police declined to confirm if it was the shooter.

I heard the gunshots, said Dahlia Anister, 33, who works at an office near the 102-story Empire State Building. It was like pop, pop, pop. It was definitely in a bunch.

The shooting started shortly after 9 a.m. (1300 GMT) on the busy sidewalk on Fifth Avenue outside the Midtown Manhattan building.

It came at the height of the tourist season outside one of New York City's most popular attractions, startling tourists and commuters. Police cordoned off the area around the building, one of the most recognizable in the world.

The Empire State Building is two blocks from Pennsylvania Station and a few blocks from Grand Central Terminal, two of New York City's main transportation hubs.

People started running, saying somebody has a gun, so I just ran the other way. I was scared, said Adrianne Lapar, 27, who works in the Empire State Building.

... contd.

ALSO READ

Patrol: 5 die in limo fire on California bridge

US Democrat leader under fire for making xenophobic comments against Nikki Haley

No one wants to bury Boston Marathon bombing suspect Tamerlan Tsarnaev

Samsung, BlackBerry devices cleared for use on Pentagon networks