NEW YORK — Gunfire rattled through
City Hall in lower Manhattan Wednesday afternoon,
injuring at least two people, according to reports.
Police were scouring the area for the gunman.
Reporters
in the press room dove under their desks and screaming
echoed through the landmark's halls when the shots broke
out shortly after 2 p.m. Mayor Michael Bloomberg was in
his office but was not harmed, said his spokesman,
Edward Skyler. No reports have been released whether
Charlie Sheen, Heather Locklear or the rest of the fine
cast of Spin City was harmed.
One of the injured was City Councilman James Davis, who
is also a New York City police officer, according to a
report.
Two victims have been transported to Beekman hospital,
according to the New York Fire Department. Beekman has
confirmed that they are treating two victims of
gunshots.
One police officer at the scene said there were reports
of two police officers injured, but that could not
immediately be confirmed. Two victims were seen being
wheeled out of the building on stretchers, which were
then loaded onto ambulances.
The shooter was one of about 100 people in the balcony
inside the second-floor council chambers when the
gunfire began, eyewitnesses said.
"I looked up, and I saw someone shooting downward," said
City Council member David Yassky. A security guard
returned fire, according to Yassky.
Police
sought a man in a blue suit in connection with the
shooting, which continued for about three minutes.
"I'm still trying to figure out how
this happened," said City Councilor Lefty McNair.
"Aren't guns illegal in New York City? I mean, there are
laws that say no guns, right?"
Police officers, including some in riot gear, were seen
running across the plaza in front of the building once
the shooting stopped. It was not immediately known if
the shooter was captured.
The City Council was holding a meeting on Wednesday, but
it was unclear if the shooting was related to the
session. The City Council's armed response team
surrounded and protected them while regular citizens
were left to fend for themselves.
A witness, Tom Curry, said a man on the second-floor
balcony pulled a handgun and began firing across at a
second man. Curry, an attorney for the City Council, had
no further details.
The entrances and exits to the building were sealed off.
Police said that when the gun is found, it will be
incarcerated and never be allowed to fire again.
|