According to reports, the NYPD identified Empire Building shooter as 58-year-old Jeffrey Johnson, a former designer of lady's accessories at Hazan Imports, who was laid off last year in the company's attempt to downsize. Johnson apparently upset about losing his job opened fire at his former supervisor Steven Ercolino, the company's Vice President. According to reports Johnson shot Ercolino three times in the chest and the head.
Apparently the two former co-workers were on animus terms with one another. According to USA Today "They each accused each other of harassment." The NYPD received calls about a shooting on 34th and Fifth Avenue at 9.07am Friday and arrived on the location within seven minutes. The shooter began shooting at the crowd, not particularly directed towards anyone. NYPD Raymond Kelly told NBC that the police fired as many as 14 shots, before shooting down Johnson. Kelly says that among the nine shot, some victims could have been shot by police firings. Johnson has been declared dead.
According to Kelly, the nine victims were taken to hospitals, none have incurred severe damages and all are expected to survive. Kelly says that victims were "wounded or grazed," according to the New York Times. The nine victims consisted of two women and seven men.
The shooter was armed with .45 Caliber pistol. Initially, Mayor Bloomberg said that NYPD "returned fire," as reported by the New York Times, implying that Johnson was firing at the police, however, NYPD confirmed that Johnson did not open fire at the cops.
