Active shooter wearing bullet-proof vest guns down two people including cop in NYC
The gunfire erupted inside a swanky skyscraper on East 52nd Street between Park Avenue and Lexington Avenue on Monday — home to corporate giants Blackstone and the NFL.
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A crazed gunman clad in a bulletproof vest and carrying an assault rifle stormed the building before barricading himself inside, law enforcement sources told the New York Post.
In footage captured by Fox 5, officers were seen carrying a bloodied victim while others tended to a person lying on the ground outside.
Witnesses reported hearing gunshots echoing through the area around nearby 51st Street and Park Avenue.
One told the NY Post: 'It sounded like a barrage of shots …Like an automatic weapon. Like a high-capacity weapon.'
A heavy police presence quickly flooded the block as officers from both the NYPD and the Sheriff's Department arrived in tactical gear with weapons drawn.
At least one police officer was shot in a shootout with the gunman and is in critical condition, senior law enforcement officials told NBC News.
Another civilian was also shot and remains in critical condition.
According to reports on X, the terrifying attack reportedly prompted a Level 3 mobilization, one of the department's highest alerts, bringing in counter-terrorism units, a bomb squad, and a heavy weapons team.
Emergency medical units were seen rushing to the 44th floor, while reports suggest the suspect may have barricaded himself on the 32nd floor.
The NYPD has urged the public to steer clear of the area as the situation remains active.
The force said in a post on X: "Expect emergency vehicles & delays in the surrounding area."
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The Sun
14 minutes ago
- The Sun
Desperate world of Vegas tunnels where 2,000 vagrants live in squats powered by car batteries & smoke ‘Black Death' drug
BENEATH the glittering hotels and neon-lit casinos of Las Vegas, miles of pitch-black tunnels reeking of urine, excrement and chemicals hide America's dirty secret. On the surface, a city of capitalism, wealth and greed visited by thousands of Brit tourists every year, where affluent punters gamble away millions before tucking into gold-leaf coated steaks. 22 22 22 22 But away from the slots, super cars and showbiz glamour lies a reality so much darker and more sinister than any visitor could imagine. Welcome to the infamous Vegas tunnels, a subterranean world that thousands call home, but where drug abuse and the threat of death rule supreme. In one of these storm drains, too dark even for a phone torch, lives ex-waitress Fortune, 48, in a tunnel only accessible via a four sq ft hole. Caesar's Palace may be just yards above, but luck is not on Fortune's side as she struggles to survive or even to just stay hydrated as summer temperatures soar above 40 degrees celsius. 'We are a dime a dozen down here,' she says. 'I am not trying to minimise my situation, but America doesn't want the world to see us.' A step towards the light reveals black lesions, scars and wounds that weep over her gaunt, pale face. Hip issues and unemployment led Fortune to become addicted to prescription pills, which then spiralled into homelessness. She tells how her two children, who she raised in the city, failed to rescue her from seven years on the streets. "They know how I live. They don't talk to me anymore.' she says. 'I didn't raise them to be friends with a crazy woman who does drugs in the wash [the name for the tunnels]. 'I'm embarrassed to be here. It f***ing sucks. But I feel safer in these tunnels than anywhere else in this city." Maintaining her sense of humour, she adds: 'It could be worse, I could be insane by now - instead of only half insane.' Behind her a gruff male voice moans: 'Come back and do this s***.' The conversation ends and she heads into the darkness. 'I am a realist. My drugs are waiting,' she says. Subterranean city 22 22 22 Fortune is just one of at least 2,000 people living in the 600 miles of tunnels, while about 8,000 people in total are homeless in the Sin City area. The city's homelessness crisis is already at a 13-year high and the latest census recorded a 20 per cent increase in just a year, with many predicting this will rise further as a result of a rise in the cost of living. Nevada also has the worst unemployment rate in the US - almost six per cent - and a shortage of low income housing, according to Jamie Sorenson, the director of Social Service for Clark County. Many beg on sidewalks, rummage through bins, steal from tourists or grab abandoned booze or food from Strip spots. Police and security often evict these 'desperate souls' within moments of spotting them at work, fearing it will blight tourists' enjoyment in the entertainment capital of the world. For the bathroom there is always a porta-potty on construction sites, gas stations, and local parks are open 24/7. You can pee outside, and go in a bag for anything else Kyle Dressed in clean clothes from a mission charity, Kyle still found living close to casinos to be useful. 'You don't have to go too far to find food, drink, steal, or panhandle near casinos - the shelters and charities hand out food and water," he says. Appliance repairman Kyle, 27, originally from Orange County, California, has been homeless for three years after splitting up with his fiancée. He says: 'For the bathroom there is always a porta-potty on construction sites, gas stations, and local parks are open 24/7. You can pee outside, and go in a bag for anything else.' Smiling, he adds: 'I have no faith in the government in doing anything. 'I prefer it out here because shelters have open sleeping bays which feel more sketchy, as so many of us were crammed together I didn't feel safe.' Makeshift homes 22 22 Throughout the tunnels people collect abandoned furniture, appliances and trash to furnish their homes. Car batteries are wired up to air fryers for cooking, while buckets next to washing up liquid make for a laundry area. Discarded bikes, scooters, shopping carts and wheelchairs, meanwhile, offer transport options. Outside a tunnel near the Aria Casino, a disregarded solar panel connects to a makeshift apartment where it powers lights, a socket for phone charging and even a small electric skillet. Scruffy-haired and sunburned Brandon, 41, admits: 'I have pretty much accepted that I am always going to be on the streets, because I've lived like this since I was eight years old. I have pretty much accepted that I am always going to be on the streets, because I've lived like this since I was eight years old Brandon 'I was married for seven years, and she stayed with me in the tunnels, but we split. " Originally from Riverside, California, Brandon earns cash selling items on the Strip and by being a street entertainer. He even once found fame online for being 'the man who you could kick in the nuts for $20' - but police and casino security teams have now barred him from pavements and casinos. 'I was supporting my wife with that, but they didn't like the attention. We had a business license to do it, but then we lost it,' he adds. 'Now if I try to do that, they are on me quick and make me leave.' Silent suffering 22 22 22 Inside, TT, 31, and friend Knuckles, 36, sit on chairs inside their 'living room'. An upset TT is back in the tunnel for a third time after recently being legally evicted from her apartment over 'some problems'. 'It feels like Hell,' she said, admitting that after spending her youth in foster care there were never any 'lessons how to navigate life'. But one tunnel couple, Crystal and Michael, boast of being 'settled and happy' after dragging all their possessions 75ft inside their tunnel. With a blue pipe by her side, 32-year-old Crystal from South Carolina proudly showed off her private chamber - a mattress dropped alongside piles of clothes, belongings and even a giant stuffed bunny. Meanwhile ex-tourist attraction supervisor Michael, 46, who lost his house because of 'bad financial decisions', believes that 'people living like us don't want no bother'. But like others, he was sceptical of how the government could help. 'They want us off the streets, but don't want to help or pay anything to help us get in homes or get jobs,' he says. Crystal adds: 'F*** the government. They don't want to do s*** for us. If you don't got money they are not interested [sic].' Armed raiders 22 22 A few hundred metres away live former landscape gardeners Tim and Eva Marie, both 49. Living in a makeshift home constructed from tents and plywood, they paint a far darker picture. 'Safety is a big issue,' says Tim. 'Knuckleheads come through here all the time trying to steal stuff with weapons - batons, knives, guns. 'The police do not respond at all. Self-policing is what we have to do... My issue is the drug addicts hitting on my wife, because she is not as tough as she thinks.' Eva agrees, adding: 'It is not easy out here, but we have each other. The police do not respond at all. Self-policing is what we have to do... My issue is the drug addicts hitting on my wife, because she is not as tough as she thinks Tim 'We have some sense of community, but there are people who suffer from mental health issues and can be dangerous. 'We try to keep to ourselves, to stay away from the drama - the fentanyl users, we try to keep those people at arm's lengths.' The use of narcotics among those living underground is a major concern for law enforcement, and signs of drug abuse are rife. Blow torches for cooking crack, meth pipes, and bongs litter the floors, as do butane torches. Lidocaine and antiseptic burn spray canisters strewn showed clear signs of 'huffing" - a wide spread trend where users feel a muscle spasming high from inhaling ethyl chloride, which can be lethal. 22 22 22 Fentanyl, which can cost as little as $5 (£3.70) a pill, has killed at least two dozen homeless in the last few weeks. Other street drugs like meth, heroin and crack cocaine are often laced with deadly synthetic opioids. Nearly 75,000 people in the US died of fentanyl overdoses in 2023 according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), but figures for mixed narcotic deaths are not recorded. According to a police officer we speak to, the dealers - known as 'D men' - offer low prices to encourage higher usage, addiction and "guaranteed repeat customers'. Though the tunnels may seem a world away from the casinos up above, the tactics used are much the same. Cocaine prices start at a couple of dollars, while $10 (£7.50) lands an addict a tenth of a gram of black tar heroin - and stumping up for more can get you freebies. As many as 80 per cent of the homeless are estimated to have addiction issues. Drugs provide an escape for those living in the tunnels, who are often also battling traumas associated with things like domestic violence, prostitution, criminal records, family woes or financial issues. 'Not everybody in tunnels are there because they do drugs,' says Donica Martinez, a case worker for non-profit organisation Shine a Light, which helps people living there. 22 22 22 'It is the majority, but others are there because they got fired, divorced, lost their house, had financial issues or split with family. 'Something like that 80 per cent of Americans are one pay cheque, life disaster or major medical bill away from being homeless.' The 44-year-old is in a better place than others to understand the reality of tunnel life. Just three years ago Donica was addicted to heroin and living underground as a prostitute. Her seven years of homelessness were spent running from her violent pimp and ex-boyfriend, and then ending up in jail without access to her two children. 'People are dropping like flies. Fentanyl is in everything now," she says. 'There was a batch of black tar heroin mixed in fentanyl, which we called 'Black Death' because of the amount of people overdosing. 'You want to numb and get as high as possible to forget about the garbage you've been through.' But the battle to help those in need has been made more difficult due to cuts imposed at state level and by President Trump. He recently signed an executive order to make it easier for cities to remove homeless people from the streets - part of an initiative to "end crime and disorder on America's streets". Charities warned of a bleak outlook, with many expecting their funding to be cut by as much as a third. "The people who have mental health disorders, the people who have substance use disorders, they shouldn't be on the streets, and we need to get them out,' says Dave Marlon of non-profit Vegas Stronger. "If you're, at the same time, cutting the coverage for this and saying, 'Everybody needs to get help,' something's got to give.' 22
The Guardian
an hour ago
- The Guardian
British man accused of trying to drown daughter-in-law in pool in Florida
A British man has been charged by US police with the attempted murder of his daughter-in-law after allegedly trying to drown her in a swimming pool while on holiday, local authorities have said. Mark Raymond Gibbon, 62, of Beaconsfield in Buckinghamshire, allegedly tried to drown the 33-year-old woman after they had an argument about his grandchildren in their rental home at the Solterra Resort in Davenport, Florida, on Sunday, the Polk county sheriff, Grady Judd, said on X. Officers had responded to reports of a disturbance in a backyard swimming pool at about 5.20pm local time. Gibbon allegedly held the victim's head underwater multiple times, which prevented her from breathing, Judd said. He allegedly stopped only after holidaymakers next door said they had called the police, while the alleged victim's nine-year-old daughter jumped into the pool to try to stop the incident, the sheriff said. Gibbon was arrested and taken to Polk county jail before he was charged with attempted second-degree murder and battery, Judd said. The sheriff said in a statement: 'It's great that Polk county draws visitors from all across the world, but we expect vacationers to behave while they visit with us, just as we expect our lifelong residents to do the same. Because Mr Gibbon couldn't control his anger, he may find himself spending a lot more time in Florida than he had anticipated.'
The Independent
an hour ago
- The Independent
Border patrol agents hide in rental truck during ‘Trojan Horse' raid outside LA Home Depot
US Border Patrol agents jumped out of a rented box truck and made arrests Wednesday at a Los Angeles Home Depot, during an immigration raid that an agency official called 'Operation Trojan Horse'. The early morning raid near downtown LA came just days after a federal appeals court upheld a federal judge's order blocking the Trump administration from conducting indiscriminate immigration stops and arrests in Southern California. 'For those who thought immigration enforcement had stopped in Southern California, think again,' acting U.S. Atty. Bill Essayli posted on the social platform X after the raid. 'The enforcement of federal law is not negotiable and there are no sanctuaries from the reach of the federal government.' Messages were sent to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security seeking details on the raid, including how many people were arrested. U.S. Border Patrol Sector Chief Greg Bovino reposted Fox News reports of Monday's arrests on X, calling the action 'Operation Trojan Horse.' Photos on social media showed the moment the rear door of the rented Penske truck opened, revealing several uniformed agents with guns. A spokesperson for Penske Truck Rental said the company was looking into the use of its vehicles by federal officials, saying its regulations prohibit transporting people in truck cargo areas. 'The company was not made aware that its trucks would be used in today's operation and did not authorize this,' spokesperson Randolph P. Ryerson said in an email. 'Penske will reach out to DHS and reinforce its policy to avoid improper use of its vehicles in the future.' Since June, the Los Angeles region has been a battleground in the Trump administration's aggressive immigration strategy that spurred protests and the deployment of the National Guards and Marines for more than a month. Federal agents have rounded up immigrants without legal status to be in the U.S. from Home Depots, car washes, bus stops, and farms. Some U.S. citizens have also been detained. Lupe Carrasco Cardona, an educator with Union del Barrio, said members of her advocacy group were conducting regular patrols at the Home Depot early Monday when they saw a Penske truck pull into the parking lot, advertising work to the day laborers there. Immigrant workers, some with legal status and others without, often wait in Home Depot parking lots to be hired for various day jobs. 'They opened the back, they hopped out and they started indiscriminately just grabbing people,' Cardona said. Unmarked white vans with U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents arrived shortly after the truck to participate in the operation, Cardona said. The organization has identified three street vendors and four day laborers that were arrested, but they were still trying to account for others. Family members said one street vendor tried to show evidence of holding asylum before he was arrested, she said. Last month, a federal judge temporarily blocked federal agents from using racial profiling to carry out indiscriminate arrests after the ACLU, Public Counsel and other advocacy groups sued over the practices. Attorneys for the government argued that the order hinders agents from carrying out immigration enforcement, but the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeal on Friday upheld the order. Tricia McLaughlin, assistant secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, has previously said that 'enforcement operations are highly targeted.' The National Day Laborer Organizing Network condemned Wednesday's raid, calling targeted workers the backbone of the local economy. 'Today's raid staged by agents in cowboy hats jumping out of a rented van with a TV crew in tow marks a dangerous escalation in the Trump Administration's assault on immigrant communities, the courts, and the people of Los Angeles,' Pablo Alvarado, the group's co-executive director, said in a statement.
