Bloomberg: Midtown Shootings Unrelated to ESB or Terrorism

NEW YORK CITY-Two people were shot dead and nine bystanders were wounded when a disgruntled former employee at an accessories importer located near the Empire State Building followed his ex-boss down the street and killed him, Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly said at a press briefing Friday morning. The gunman then opened fire on pedestrians, and was himself killed by a policeman on foot patrol. At the briefing, Mayor Michael Bloomberg said the shootings were unconnected to the landmark Midtown office tower and had “nothing to do with terrorism,” a point also made in a statement from Malkin Holdings, which controls the ESB.

Kelly identified the gunman as Jeffrey Johnson, 56, of Manhattan, a former employee of Hazan Import Co. at 10 W. 33rd St. who was laid off last year as the company downsized. His victim, a 41-year-old man, was not identified pending notification of relatives.