A recently fired employee of a computer repair store shot his former boss in New York City’s Upper West Side neighborhood on Wednesday and fled into the subway system to escape police. According to officials, the incident occurred around 9:20 a.m. at West 69th Street and Columbus Avenue.
The attacker, according to a report in The New York Post, was reportedly a remote employee of Lincoln Business Machines Incorporated who was recently laid off from his position. Eyewitnesses claim that the former employee, a man in his 40s, confronted his ex-employer on the street near the store, shooting him twice – once in the shoulder and then in his leg. The report said the victim, a 47-year-old man, was immediately taken to St. Luke’s Hospital, where he is in stable condition.
After the shooting, the suspect ran into the nearby 72nd Street subway station and hid under a stationary train. “It was all about work conditions,” one resident told The New York Post, adding that the attacker’s complaints reportedly included financial disagreements with his former employer. “It was something about money and something about being cheated or being wrong… it was horrible.”
“I heard 15 loud bangs,” one resident told CBS News. Another witness recalled, “I was actually half asleep and I heard 10 gunshots.” A stray bullet hit the door of a nearby apartment building. “We moved into this building just a month and a half ago thinking it was a really safe area,” said a resident of the building.
During the search, metro passengers faced significant disruptions, and one train was evacuated. A video shared on social media showed passengers crouching on the floor and crawling out of the dark tunnels. One commuter posted on X (formerly Twitter), “My super pleasant subway ride to work this morning!! Love the C Train!!! Nothing like an active gunman on a train to wake you up for the day!”
My super pleasant subway ride to work this morning!! Love the C Train!!! Nothing like an active gunman on a train to wake you up for the day! pic.twitter.com/C173IdfxOB
– Joyceepoo (@joyceepoo1) 7 November 2024
According to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, C trains were temporarily suspended in both directions, while A and D trains suffered severe delays. Other lines including B and E were also affected.
The gunman, who is still at large, was last seen wearing a black hoodie, green jacket, tan pants and carrying a black gun, The New York Post reports.
