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53-year-old Jeffrey T. Johnson has been identified as the gunman who opened fire at the Empire State Building Friday morning, shooting and wounding 9 people, and killing his former co-worker, before being gunned down himself by police.

The NY Daily News reports,

Jeffrey awoke alone Friday in his upper East Side apartment, put on his gray suit and grabbed his briefcase. On his way out the door, promptly at 7:30 a.m., Johnson said hello to the building’s super.

Neighbors described Johnson as a loner who bought the same takeout meal each day at a McDonald’s near his home — and then dined alone in his room.

Other than an occasional pop-in by his mother, Johnson never welcomed any guests to the simple apartment.

STORY: Multiple People Shot Outside Empire State Building 

Johnson was a women’s accessories fashion designer who worked at Hazan Imports, which was located in close proximity to the iconic Empire State Building. 

Here are a few things you need to know about what happened when Johnson opened fired yesterday morning:

  • -Johnson used a 45 semi-automatic caliber handgun.
  • -He worked at Hazan Imports, a women’s accessories design line, for 6 years.
  • -Johnson was laid off a year ago due to downsizing.
  • -Johnson shot his former co-worker, a 41-year-old named Steven Ercolino, in the head in front of the office building at 10 W 33rd street. Ercolino had been the Vice President of Sales at Hazan Import Corp. since December 2005.
  • -After Johnson shot his former colleague, a construction worker followed him, then spoke to police nearby. Johnson turned his .45-caliber pistol on officers and they returned fire. Johnson was shot and killed by police.

New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and NYPD Police Commissioner Ray Kelly  held a press conference after the shooting and praised the efforts of the construction saying:

“This is a situation that would have been more tragic but for acts of heroism … [by police and] a number of civilians who bravery and assistance certainly saved a number of lives.”

Johnson began his rampage by shooting and killing the firm’s office manager, Steve Ercolino. The two men were involved in a dispute involving allegations of harassment, Kelly said.

Nine civilians were injured – none fatally – in the shootout, and some were accidentally hit by NYPD bullets.