NEW YORK — A deadly shooting unfolded Monday evening in Midtown Manhattan, leaving five people dead, including a New York Police Department officer and the suspected shooter, who is believed to have died by suicide.
According to the NYPD, the incident occurred near 345 Park Avenue, a high-rise office building that houses major corporate tenants such as the NFL and Blackstone. The lone gunman, armed with a long rifle, opened fire near the building just before rush hour.
“The scene has been contained,” NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch confirmed, adding that the shooter had been “neutralised” and that there was no ongoing threat to the public.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams urged residents to avoid the area while law enforcement continued their investigation. “There is an active shooter investigation taking place in Midtown right now,” Adams wrote on X (formerly Twitter), advising people near Park Avenue and East 51st Street to stay indoors and exercise caution.
Emergency response was swift and massive. Videos posted on social media showed heavily armed officers in ballistic gear securing the perimeter as ambulances, NYPD bomb squad units, and drones were deployed. Helicopters hovered overhead as the situation unfolded during one of the busiest times of day.
Eyewitnesses described scenes of confusion and alarm. Shad Sakib, an office worker nearby, told AFP that employees were told over a PA system to shelter in place. “We didn’t know what was going on until someone saw it online — that a man with a machine gun had walked in next door,” he said. “It’s surreal. That’s the same entrance I use daily.”
While the precise motive remains unclear, the office complex where the incident occurred includes offices of the global investment firm Blackstone.
City Council member and mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani posted on X expressing his condolences: “Heartbroken to learn of the horrific shooting in Midtown. Holding the victims, their families, and the NYPD officer in my thoughts tonight.”
The Midtown neighborhood, known for its concentration of corporate headquarters, luxury hotels, and legal firms, was brought to a standstill as authorities worked to secure the area and gather evidence.
As of now, police say the investigation is ongoing.
