Empire State Gunman Faced Eviction

Bloomberg supports officers' quick action
By Matt Cantor,  Newser Staff
Posted Aug 27, 2012 7:00 AM CDT
Empire State Gunman Faced Eviction
Bystanders and a police officer stand on Fifth Avenue to view the scene after a multiple shooting outside the Empire State Building, Friday, Aug. 24, 2012, in New York.   (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)

The case of Empire State Building shooter Jeffrey Johnson continues to unfold. Police have now visited his Upper East Side apartment three times, taking a computer and documents from the home, the Wall Street Journal reports. Emerging details:

  • The one-bedroom apartment may not have belonged to Johnson much longer: He was in danger of being evicted after being unable to make rent, the New York Post reports. And Johnson apparently didn't plan to come home after the attack: "He left the keys in an envelope for the landlord," a police insider tells Reuters

  • Inside Johnson's rooms, officers discovered books about sniper techniques as well as more ammo.
  • Johnson didn't fire at police, authorities say. They began firing at him as soon as he pointed his gun their way. Though police have acknowledged responsibility for injuring bystanders, chief Raymond Kelly and Mayor Michael Bloomberg support the 15-year veteran officers' decision. Kelly says they had no choice, the Journal reports.
  • Victim Steven Ercolino was soon to marry his girlfriend, her brother tells the Post.
(More Empire State Building stories.)

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