Tragic Skyscraper Shooting in Manhattan Leaves Five Dead

A gunman armed with an AR-15-style rifle wreaked havoc in a bustling Manhattan skyscraper on Monday evening, killing four people, including an off-duty police officer, before taking his own life. The tragic incident took place at 345 Park Avenue, a 44-story building in Midtown owned by Rudin Management, with offices for companies such as Blackstone and the National Football League (NFL).

Panic ensued during the rush hour attack, causing chaos in the busy business district. Officials confirmed that the gunman initially targeted an off-duty New York City police officer working as a security guard, before fatally shooting three other individuals, including a woman on the 33rd floor at Rudin Management's office. He then died by suicide. U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi took to social media, indicating that U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton has coordinated a command post to manage the situation, with local FBI agents actively investigating the incident.

The NFL acknowledged an employee was critically injured in the shooting. Commissioner Roger Goodell reported the employee is hospitalized and stable, though his identity remains undisclosed. Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch detailed the sequence of events, stating that the gunman arrived at the building in a black BMW and began shooting immediately upon entering the lobby. He targeted the officer, a man, and a woman, continuing his assault across the lobby. A security guard was also injured while hiding. The gunman allowed a woman exiting an elevator to pass unharmed before proceeding to Rudin Management's office on the 33rd floor, where he fatally shot a woman before ending his own life.

(With inputs from agencies.)