Breaking news . . .

[Deerthug]

Yet another shooting just outside the Empire State Building! At least three people shot . .

http://www.myfoxny.com/story/19363141/shooting-outside-empire-state-building

[shawnhu]

Hmm. Pretty close to home. Hope everyone is ok.

[Deerthug]

Listening to news . . . 8 people shot . . . one critical . . . gunman dead . . . don't know who shot gunman

witness on phone with the news right now says gunman was shooting indiscriminately.

[BizCT]

Yea, I got into Grand Central around 9am and there were fire trucks and cops flying up and down the roads....I work in Times Square and its crazy here too, buildings evacuated. I assume this is unrelated....

view from my office in Times Square.

[Deerthug]

Update: Witnesses are saying that gunman went up to one guy standing next to a woman, shot him multiple times and ran shooting indiscriminately, woman was not hit. Then gunman ran to West 33rd & 5th Ave and shot another person and then aimed his gun toward police and was killed by cops.

Now they are saying the gunman was fired from his job this morning. And that there were TWO gunmen ?????

So many different stories.

Edited August 24, 2012 by Deerthug

[BizCT]

2 Dead (1 is gunmen), 10 injured......so far

[Sogaard]

How many hours till Bloomberg's press conference? This one is going to hurt. I used to work just a few blocks away, but I'm downtown now. I just hope the other (up to 9 reported now) wounded people are OK.

[First-light]

I'm in the City right now. Helicopters overhead and police cars everywhere. 7th ave had a building evacuated also around the same time. Nutty day in NY. Prayers go out to my fellow New Yorkers.

[Geno C]

people really cant act right... very sad...

[Grouse]

Good thing nobody is allowed to carry a gun in NYC. God forbid you are able to defend yourself against nuts that don't give two hoots about the gun laws.

[NFA-ADK]

Unreal, just because you lose your job is no reason to go crazy. Like that was the last one on the planet? Again if a armed citizen was present this might not have happened to 7 additional people... I pray everyone is ok!

[ELMER J. FUDD]

What a shame. The poor victims couldn't defend themselves because of Bloomberg's laws. The families should be able to sue him. It takes seconds to use your own firearm, and once again the police were minutes away....

Edited August 24, 2012 by ELMER J. FUDD

[Deerthug]

Now saying that the gunman was fired from NY Sightseeing Tour company and that one of the dead was gunman's supervisor. Also saying could be friendly fire from cops that shot other victims - I hope not.

[Sogaard]

Restrictive gun laws in NYC were around way before Bloomberg.

[virgil]

For all you guys who like to believe that 'armed citizens' could prevent a thing like this, I have a few questions. How do you envision the scene unfolding when the police arrive to the scene of an active shooting and find a bunch of guys (not in police uniform), guns drawn, and firing shots at each other? How would they know who the shooter is and who the well-intentioned citizens are? When the police fire on the 'armed citizens' because they can't distinguish them from the criminals, what then?

Edited August 24, 2012 by virgil

[Deerthug]

Bloomburg about to speak. I'm going to get my popcorn out . . .

Edited August 24, 2012 by Deerthug

[Sogaard]

Honestly, for the people saying (I'm paraphrasing) "too bad there weren't more armed people firing guns on the crowded streets of NYC", have you ever been there?

When the police respond a minute or so later and they see multiple people with guns blasting away, how are they supposed to be able to tell the "good guys" from the "bad guys".

More guns is not the answer to every questions asked.

I'll sit back and get flamed now until Virgil posts something new for you to focus on.

EDIT: Lol, Virgil posted while I was typing my response. =D

Edited August 24, 2012 by Sogaard

[Culvercreek hunt club]

For all you guys who like to believe that 'armed citizens' could prevent a thing like this, I have a few questions. How do you envision the scene unfolding when the police arrive to the scene of an active shooting and find a bunch of guys (not in police uniform), guns drawn, and firing shots at each other? How would they know who the shooter is and who the well-intentioned citizens are? When the police fire on the 'armed citizens' because they can't distinguish them from the criminals, what then?

I am not sure an armed citizen could prevent this, but they have a much better chance than an unarmed one.

I would think that the armed citizens (the good guys) would immediately comply with a lawful order to put their arms down. the ones that don't and shoot at the cops are likely the bad guys.

[virgil]

Now they can flame us both.

[Sogaard]

I am not sure an armed citizen could prevent this, but they have a much better chance than an unarmed one.

I would think that the armed citizens (the good guys) would immediately comply with a lawful order to put their arms down. the ones that don't and shoot at the cops are likely the bad guys.

Funny that you mention this. An unarmed elevator worker from the building is currently being acknowledged for both, running the shooter off, and directing cops to him.

Edited August 24, 2012 by Sogaard

[Doewhacker]

From what I heard on the news the cops were right there when it went down and took the clown out. I don't think an armed citizen was necessary in this case and could have done more harm than good on a crowded street.

[Culvercreek hunt club]

Funny that you mention this. An unarmed elevator worker from the building is currently being acknowledged for both, running the shooter off, and directing cops to him.

True hero. wish he could have accomplished it before so many were hit.

[steve863]

Bloomy just said that a few of the people shot were accidently shot by cops. Just great. Even cops don't know who to shoot, so you guys think that society will trust you and me to carry a gun and shoot the right person?

[Sogaard]

The guy killed his one intended victim. He then fled a block or so where he was confronted by cops who were on the scene practically instantly. He then drew his weapon again and tried to shoot the police. They returned fire and killed him. It was in this exchange that the rest of the people were wounded.

And these are trained officers of the law.

Yeah, more people with guns on crowded streets is the answer. Srsly.

Edited August 24, 2012 by Sogaard

[Deerthug]

They have not confirmed whether the others were shot by police or by the gunman during the exchange. So until they do the ballistic testing we won't know.