The rush-hour shooting in front of the Empire State Building didn’t stop tourists from streaming into the iconic skyscraper.
Minutes after a crazed Jeffrey Johnson gunned down a former co-worker in front of the landmark, visitors traipsed past the bloody scene for a view of the city from the observation deck.
“The Empire State Building and its observatories remained open throughout and continue to be open and operating,” said Anthony Malkin, president of Malkin Properties, which owns the building.
Immediately after the gunfire, security guards locked the entrances to the iconic building, but the doors reopened in minutes after they deemed the situation under control.
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Since it opened in 1931, the landmark has attracted its share of tragedies. In 1945, a US bomber pilot crashed into the side of the building, killing 14 people.
Fifteen years ago, a Palestinian man opened fire on the observation deck, killing one and wounding six before killing himself.
This time, owners distanced themselves from the shooting by noting that the shooter worked next door.
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“This unfortunate event had nothing to do with the Empire State Building or with terrorism,” Malkin said.
Operators said they had not yet decided whether to keep the building lights white as planned or if they intended to honor the victims.
