Two people are dead, and nine others are injured after a gunman opened fire near the Empire State Building in Midtown Manhattan this morning.
The Office of Mayor Bloomberg made an official statement live via YouTube to clarify several erroneous reports that quickly spread on social media and, eventually, to major news outlets. (Fast forward to 24:58 in the video for the start of the conference.)
At 9:03 a.m., Jeffery Johnson, 58, reportedly shot and killed former co-worker Steve Ercolino, 41, at 10 West 33rd Street. He then fled the scene, and a nearby construction worker alerted authorities who were stationed at the Empire State Building. The two policemen then chased Johnson and shot him dead after he pulled his .45-caliber gun in an effort to fire at cops.
Nine bystanders -- seven men and two women -- were injured during the chase as the result of stray bullets. Police Commissioner Ray Kelly said all of the wounded are expected to make a full recovery.
Johnson worked with the victim at women's accessories designer Hazan Imports but was laid off last year after budget cuts.