On Sunday, a gunman who opened fire on the steps of a New York City cathedral was shot and killed by responding police officers, authorities said.
A choir that had just finished Christmas caroling at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine was at the cathedral steps when the suspect, who had two handguns, went to the church doors and opened fire into the air, police said.
According to a police source, two NYPD officers and a sergeant who was present at the scene opened fire, striking the gunman in the head.
During a press conference Sunday, NYPD Police Commissioner Dermot Shea hailed the officers as heroes.
According to multiple witnesses on the scene, Shea said that the suspect was yelling “kill me,” and that the motive for the shooting is not yet clear.
The gunman —a man in his 50s— was pronounced dead at St. Luke’s Hospital late Sunday afternoon.
“Thankfully, none of the attendees were hit,” Isadora Wilkenfeld, a spokesperson for the Cathedral of St. John the Divine, said in a statement.
“It is horrible that our choir’s gift to New York City, a much-needed afternoon of song and unity, was cut short by this shocking act of violence. We will remain strong, together, and serve as a safe space for prayer, meditation, and celebration during the upcoming holiday season.”
Shea said that two semi-automatic firearms were retrieved from the shooting scene, along with a bag believed to belong to the suspect containing a full can of gasoline, wire, rope, multiple knives, and a bible.
The NYPD will continue to review body camera footage and the incident is under investigation, Shea said.