Death at the Empire State Building

Posted on Aug 24, 2012

AP/Louis Lanzano

Police surround a covered body on a Fifth Avenue sidewalk after the shooting.

A 53-year-old apparel designer shot and killed his former boss on a sidewalk outside the Empire State Building in New York City on Friday morning before he was confronted and shot dead by police officers. Nine others were wounded.

—Posted by Alexander Reed Kelly.

The Guardian:

Police commissioner Ray Kelly ... identifies the shooter as Jeffrey Johnson, 53.

Johnson used a .45 caliber semiautomatic handgun, Kelly says.

He shot his victim, 41, in the head. Then he put the gun in a black bag and walked from the scene. A construction worker followed the suspect and alerted to cops on post in front of the Empire State Building.

The police officers approached Johnson. He pulled his gun and fired on the officers. Two women and seven men were shot in the exchange. None has life-threatening injuries.

The shooter was an employee of Hazan Imports, an apparel business, for about six years. He was a designer of women’s accessories. He was laid off about a year ago as part of downsizing.

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