New York mass shooting sees rifle-toting gunman kill three people and himself

A police officer and at least four other people were shot and killed — and several others injured — by a crazed gunman in New York City on Monday night.

The assailant - armed with a rifle - stormed a swanky office building in Midtown Manhattan and opening fire at around 6.30pm (local time). He barged into the skyscraper, which houses the National Football League (NFL) offices and those of major financial firms, and unleashed a barrage of shots.

One witness on the first floor described hearing what sounded "like an automatic weapon, like a high-capacity weapon" amid the chaos. Authorities had the neighbourhood on lockdown with residents and office workers evacuated - or, in some cases, told to remain inside their buildings.

At least one police officer was shot at the scene and died at a hospital. Four civilians were also fatally shot and six were injured, sources said. It is thought the suspect, said to be a 27-year-old man, barricaded himself inside and was discovered dead from a gun-inflicted gunshot wound.

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Addressing reporters at a police press conference moments ago, New York Police Department (NYPD) confirmed the gunman killed five people - and then shot himself dead.

Speaking around two hours into the police operation, NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said: "The scene has been contained and the lone shooter has been neutralised."

Before her update, terrifying photos appeared to show employees inside the building barricading their office door with furniture. Workers in business attire were seen piling sofas up against their office door - with the towering furniture reaching the ceiling.

Armed police swarmed the building swiftly, however, and were able to locate the gunman. Oleksandr Stupak, 30, said: "I was on the one block away and I heard shots being fired and then a bunch of police, they came to neutralize it. I went to the Citizen app and it says active shooting. A lot of police started to come. I mean. [It’s ] crazy."

The blocks surrounding the building were flooded with police cars, fire engines, ambulances and first responders, while helicopters filled the sky overhead. The FBI and bomb squad also responded to the scene.

NFL employees were told to shelter inside their office, it is believed. An ESPN reporter tweeted: "I’m told NFL employees at 345 Park Ave have been told to shelter in place after reports of gunfire nearby. An NFL security alert sent to employees: 'Do not exit the building. Secure your location and hide until law enforcement clears your floor. Please switch phones to silent.'

The soaring high-rise on Park Avenue serves as the global headquarters of Blackstone, an investment firm which bills itself as "the world’s largest alternative asset manager" overseeing more than $1 trillion.