Shots fired in NYC city hall

http://famulus.msnbc.com/famulusgen/ap07-23-112304.asp?t=APNEW&0cm=c10 ^

[fritter]

NEW YORK, July 23 — A man on the second-floor balcony of City Hall pulled a handgun and began firing Wednesday afternoon, reportedly injuring two people inside the building in lower Manhattan.

Screams echoed through City Hall as about a dozen shots rang out shortly after 2 p.m., sending people diving for cover beneath their desks.

One police officer at the scene said there were reports of two police officers injured, but that could not immediately be confirmed. However, two ambulances were seen leaving the plaza outside City Hall.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg was in his office but was not harmed, said his spokesman, Edward Skyler.

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 in custody.

A witness, Tom Curry, said a man 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, which are secured by metal detectors, were sealed off, and a stretcher was rushed inside by police in flak jackets. It was not immediately clear how anyone got a gun inside.

The City Council was holding a meeting on Wednesday, but it was unclear if the shooting was related to the session.

[fritter]

they have shut down the Bk & Manhattan Bridges

[trebb]

And NY has some of the strictest gun laws around...

[Rodney King]

they have shut down the Bk & Manhattan Bridges

Oh good god. You can't shut down the whole damn city because one guy pulls a gun.

[Redcloak]

Gun control in action!

[wideawake]

It's not the whole city. Given their proximity to City Hall, these are the two bridges a suspect would be most likely to use for escape.

[Huck]

It's not the whole city. Given their proximity to City Hall, these are the two bridges a suspect would be most likely to use for escape.

That's true. Now if they shut down the GW, or the tunnels, that'd be excessive.

[Redcloak]

they have shut down the Bk & Manhattan Bridges

Oh good god. You can't shut down the whole damn city because one guy pulls a gun.

I hope that no one from Al Qaeda reads about that. A few guys in turbans armed with squirt guns could crash the economy!

[Rodney King]

I'll bet its not escape they are worried about, they probably have the guy. It's the whole crisis mentality.

[OldFriend]

How funny that Bloomberg is still in hiding and it's over an hour since the incident ended. HE'S NO RUDY!

[DuncanWaring]

Maybe they should post a sign on City Hall saying "No Guns Allowed". With really big letters. That would put an end to this silliness. < /sarcasm>

[HairOfTheDog]

It's the whole crisis mentality.

You're right....

[wideawake]

Think again. Just came over the tape that the police are searching for the assailant. They've been on the scene almost an hour and can't find him.

[second_semi_annual_toast_throw]

Mayor Michael Bloomberg was in his office, on the floor, under his desk, viciously smashing several cartons of Marlboro Light 100's, with his bare hands, in an effort to prove that he really, really dislikes cigarettes. but was not harmed. <\sarcasm>

[Rodney King]

Thanks. good call.

[wideawake]

New info: suspect was dressed in a blue suit, appeared to have a specific target in mind, may have critically wounded a city councilman, and wounded either security or cops as well.

[MineralMan]

Doesn't seem much like a joking matter, then, it seems to me.

[wideawake]

Wounded City Councilman named James Davis - represents Brooklyn, maybe Brooklyn Heights area - office address is on DeKalb Ave.

[wideawake]

Former Black Panther and Mugabe fan Councilman Charles Barron being quoted as saying that Davis actually was introducing the shooter before the Council meeting - something really weird going on here.

[autoresponder]

NYC GUN CONTROL EXAMPLE

BROOKLYN COUNCILMAN DAVIS SHOT

LIGHT SKINNED BLACK SHOOTER AT LARGE

satellite feed poor on CNN

MSNTV email snapshot/Yahoo email decoded image to URL

[Rodney King]

Holy Cow!!! That is weird. It would be nice if (as it's already happened) if it's some anti-bush nut.