Holy Crap - Shooting at NY City Hall

[Ben Trismegistus]

I've been following this story since it started about 2 hours ago.

Just past 2:00 pm, an unidentified shooter opened fire from a second-floor balcony in New York's City Hall. Two people were shot, and the shooter is still at large.

One of the victims, Brooklyn City Councilman James Davis, has died from two gunshot wounds to the chest. The irony is that Davis, a former police officer, started "Love Yourself - Stop the Violence", a not-for-profit organization dedicated to fighting urban violence.

Lower Manhattan has been virtually shut down as police are hunting for the assailant. More details as I get them.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=519&e=1&u=/ap/20030723/ap_on_re_us/city_hall_gunfire

[Kaylara]

I've been following this story since it started about 2 hours ago.

Just past 2:00 pm, an unidentified shooter opened fire from a second-floor balcony in New York's City Hall. Two people were shot, and the shooter is still at large.

One of the victims, Brooklyn City Councilman James Davis, has died from two gunshot wounds to the chest. The irony is that Davis, a former police officer, started "Love Yourself - Stop the Violence", a not-for-profit organization dedicated to fighting urban violence.

Lower Manhattan has been virtually shut down as police are hunting for the assailant. More details as I get them.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=519&e=1&u=/ap/20030723/ap_on_re_us/city_hall_gunfire


OMG! Please keep us posted.

[MammaStar]

i just read, that Councilman Davis was TALKING to the man that shot him MOMENTS before the incident happened. And also that it's possible the alleged shooter got into City Hall via a Davis staffer. :(

[Ben Trismegistus]

Reports are that the second victim has died of his gunshot wounds.

[Gareth]

Police think it was a shootout betwen Councilmen Davis and Askew. Over a poitical issue. l'll be watching the news conference when it comes on.

[Gareth]

So far police think it was a shootout between Councilmen Davis and "almost" opponent Neil Askew, Askew could not get on the ballot this time. So that's why they are saying "almost" , details are still sketchy as to why. But police assume it was a political dispute that started it all.

The media is wondering how they got in with guns. It was explained that they had special badges or pins that allowed them to get the guns inside city hall. They (media) are also claiming that security was a little low for some reason.

[WtchyChick13]

They just said on the news that it's actually possible that Davis got the guy into City Hall because he was with him.

They are still saying that Askew was upset because he couldn't get on the ballot to run against Davis.

Ironically, Davis was a man who was trying to stop violent crime and had started a campaign called "Love Yourself." Because if you love yourself, you can rise above the violence.

He was an ex NYPD officer and rose up out of Bed-Sty to become a highly regarded political figure.

He was working towards his Doctorate in Sociology and was only 41.

My thoughts go to his family.

[Ben Trismegistus]

Update:

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=514&e=1&u=/ap/20030723/ap_on_re_us/city_hall_gunfire
NEW YORK - A gunman who managed to bring a weapon into City Hall opened fire inside City Council chambers Wednesday afternoon, killing a councilman who crusaded against urban violence. A plainclothes police officer shot and killed the assailant, police sources said. http://us.news1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20030723/thumb.1058992754.city_hall_gunfire_xnyr303.jpg (http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/030723/168/4rrq6.html)
AP Photo (http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&u=/030723/168/4rrq6.html)
http://us.news1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20030723/thumb.1058994771.city_hall_gunfire_xnyr703.jpg (javascript: rs()
AP Photo (javascript: rs() http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/auctions/cam.gifSlideshow: Shooting at NY City Hall (javascript: rs()
The shooter was a political opponent of the councilman, and had accompanied him into the building before the shooting, a police source said, speaking on condition of anonymity. The gunman's ties to the councilman apparently allowed him to bypass security, the source told The Associated Press.

[Lai]

Just... wow. That's kind of scary. :( I didn't hear of this until I just read this post- now I think I'll go see if there's still anything on the television.

[Gareth]

Starting NOW all people have to go through the metal detector,even the mayor. Makes me say that if this were the policy beforehand, I don't think anybody would've gotten shot there today.(jmo)

[WtchyChick13]

Here's the link for the local news here in NYC:

http://www.wnbc.com/

You can see the story, video and a bio on Councilman Davis.

[Valnorran]

Sheesh, at least in the 19th century politicians had the decency to go out to a deserted field to gun each other down.