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Public Safety

Two Dead, 8 Injured After Shooting Near Empire State Building

Law enforcement stands near the covered body of a suspected shooter on 5th Ave. near the Empire State Building August 24, 2012 in New York City.
Andrew Kelly
Law enforcement stands near the covered body of a suspected shooter on 5th Ave. near the Empire State Building August 24, 2012 in New York City.

Two law enforcement officials in New York City say a recently fired store worker shot a former colleague to death and then randomly opened fire on others near the Empire State Building. They say the gunman was shot and killed by police.

The officials say eight other people were struck by bullets but those injuries are not believed to be life threatening.

The officials say the gunman previously worked at a store inside the landmark skyscraper. The shooting happened at about 9 a.m. Friday at 34th Street and Fifth Avenue.

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The law enforcement officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to publicly discuss the matter.

Federal officials say the shooting isn't related to terrorism, and a guard at the landmark said it didn't involve the parts of the building where tourists gather to visit the skyscraper.

KPBS has created a public safety coverage policy to guide decisions on what stories we prioritize, as well as whose narratives we need to include to tell complete stories that best serve our audiences. This policy was shaped through months of training with the Poynter Institute and feedback from the community. You can read the full policy here.