The shooter opened fire inside the Park Avenue tower housing Blackstone and NFL offices before reportedly taking his own life

A gunman armed with a rifle opened fire inside a high-rise office building in Midtown Manhattan on Monday evening, reportedly killing a New York City police officer and critically injuring at least two others before fatally shooting himself, authorities and multiple media outlets have reported.

The incident unfolded at around 6:30pm inside 345 Park Avenue, a 44-story skyscraper that houses the headquarters of Blackstone, the NFL, and other major firms and Associated Press.

The shooter, who has not yet been publicly identified, entered the building wearing a bulletproof vest and carrying what witnesses described as a high-capacity rifle. He opened fire in the lobby before barricading himself on the 33rd floor, where he was later found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, according to police sources cited by ABC News and the New York Post.

Footage shared by Fox News and local media showed heavily armed NYPD and Sheriff's Department officers with rifles drawn evacuating employees and searching the building. Lines of people were seen exiting with their hands raised as officers secured each floor. At least one person was carried by police, and another was treated on the ground, video showed.

The FBI confirmed that agents from its New York Field Office responded to assist with the investigation. Deputy Director Dan Bongino described the situation as an "active crime scene" on social media.

Mayor Eric Adams urged New Yorkers to avoid the area and follow safety instructions, stating that an "active shooter investigation" was underway. The city's emergency alert system warned of major traffic and transit disruptions around Park Avenue and East 52nd Street.

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(RT.com)