Midtown Manhattan shooting claims 5 lives; Democrat Zohran Mamdani responds

At least five people died in a shooting at a Midtown Manhattan office building on Monday. The deceased include a New York City police officer, who was off-duty, and the gunman fatally shot himself. 

 

The gunman, Shane Devon Tamura (27), wearing body armour and carrying a high-powered M4 rifle, entered the building and shot at the New York City police officer before spraying bullets in the lobby of the building.  According to New York City police authorities, Tamura was a Las Vegas resident and possessed a permit to carry a concealed weapon in Nevada. 

 

New York Police Department Commissioner Jessica Tisch said Tamura was believed to be lone shooter involved in the incident. Police are yet to ascertain whether the shooting was anyway related to any of the offices in the building which houses headquarters for the investment company Blackstone and the National Football League, ABC News reported. Office of consulate general of Ireland was also located in the building. 

 

Police found the gunman's body on the 33rd floor of the building with gunshot wounds, believed to be self-inflicted. The Fire Department of New York said emergency crews were called to the Park Avenue office building around 6.30pm for a report of someone shot. 

 

An eyewitness told the news channel that she was watching a presentation with dozens of other people on the second floor when she heard multiple shots go off in quick succession from the first floor. They ran into a conference room and barricaded tables against the door. "We were honestly really, really scared," the eyewitness said, adding that she texted her parents to tell them that she loves them.

 

Mayor Eric Adams said multiple people were injured. He posted a clip to social media urging people still inside the office building to stay put because police officers were conducting a floor-by-floor search. The Democrat said he's headed to the hospital to speak with the family and loved ones of those involved.

 

Local TV footage showed lines of people evacuating the office building with their hands above their heads. The building includes offices of Blackstone and the 

 

Zohran Kwame Mamdani, the Democratic Party nominee for New York City mayor elections, condemned the incident and appreciated the work done by first responders. "I’m heartbroken to learn of the horrific shooting in midtown and I am holding the victims, their families, and the NYPD officer in critical condition in my thoughts. Grateful for all of our first responders on the ground," he tweeted.

 

 

The building where the shooting happened is in a busy area of midtown, located a short walk north from Grand Central Terminal and about a block east of St. Patrick's Cathedral.

 

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