Disgruntled Laid Off Worker Behind Empire State Building Shooting
Aug. 24 2012, Published 7:00 a.m. ET
A disgruntled former employee of a company located inside the Empire State Building was behind Friday morning’s mass shooting that left two people, including the gunman, dead and several others wounded.
The gunman -- identified as 53-year-old Jeffrey Johnson -- used a .45 caliber handgun to shoot a former co-worker in the head inside the iconic New York landmark. The victim, a 41-year-old man, died at the scene. At this time, his identity is not being released.
Authorities said Johnson tried to flee the scene after the shooting, but a construction worker alerted two police officers, who chased him down 33rd Street.
When Johnson pulled a gun on the approaching police officers, they shot him dead. It’s not clear if Johnson actually shot any rounds as police opened fire on him.
Nine bystanders -- seven men and two women-- were injured in the crossfire as the result of stray bullets.
"Some may have been accidentally shot by police officers," Police Commissioner Ray Kelly said at a news conference. All of the wounded are expected to make a full recovery.
Johnson worked with the victim at women’s accessories designer Hazan Imports. He was laid off last year as a result of budget cuts.