A shooting took place on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, New York, the US on Thursday morning, November 7 (local time) before fleeing into a nearby subway station, police said.
Police said the gunman was still at large and the victim was in stable condition. The incident forced New Yorkers to take shelter in subway cars and led to delays across the public transportation system.
Video recorded panicked people taking shelter in subway cars
An initial investigation showed that this was a revenge attack against a former boss. The disgruntled former employee was a remote worker and had been fired before the shooting, which occurred around 9:30 a.m. (local time).
The suspect confronted his former boss at Lincoln Business Machines Inc. on West 68th Street and Columbus Avenue and fired at least six shots, hitting the victim twice in the leg and shoulder.
The victim was taken to Mount Sinai Morningside and is expected to survive.
Witnesses said they still couldn't believe what they saw.
Bart Hopkins was working at a liquor store on Columbus Avenue and later learned that the victim was the same person who had repaired computers for him countless times at Lincoln Business Machines. "I always found him to be very friendly, polite, soft-spoken, and I really didn't see anyone having any bad feelings toward him," Hopkins said.
Near the scene of the shooting, broken glass from a bus stop window covered a stretch of sidewalk west of Columbus Avenue near 69th Street.
Across the street, three baristas were working at a coffee shop when they heard a series of gunshots.
"It was terrifying," said one of the three, Arielle Schmid.
The workers said that when the incident happened, about eight to 10 people ran into the store and hid behind the counter and in the bathroom, where the baristas also took refuge.
Someone called 911, and a few minutes later, those hiding behind the counter said they were safe to come out.
The search for the suspect led to temporary subway delays across Manhattan as the shooter fled to the subway station at 72nd Street and Central Park West.
Authorities cut power so police could walk along the tracks in case the suspect was hiding in the subway tunnel north of the station. Some passengers were evacuated and trains were delayed as the investigation continued.
Additionally, some subway riders said they were asked to lie on the floor as police searched the train. Subway service was restored shortly after 11 a.m.
Investigators believe the suspect may have exited the train through the 76th Street exit and were searching Central Park on Thursday afternoon.
The investigation into the shooting remains ongoing.