Gunman Killed After Opening Fire On The Steps Of UWS Cathedral

UPPER WEST SIDE, NY — In a terrifying scene Sunday, NYPD officers exchanged gunshots with a man who fired bullets on the steps of the Cathedral of St. John the Divine as a Christmas caroling event came to a close.

Shots rang out around 3:45 p.m. outside the cathedral at 1047 Amsterdam Avenue.

Police have not offered an official account yet of whether the gunman was shooting at churchgoers or people in the nearby area, but multiple reports said that the man appeared to be firing shots into the air.

Police Commissioner Dermot Shea said in a news conference outside the cathedral that the man had a gun in each hand and began open firing from the historic house of worship's massive steps.

A police officer and a detective already on the scene began returning fire and were joined quickly by an NYPD sergeant at a nearby hospital. Shea said the three officers fired 15 bullets at the gunman as the man continued to shoot his weapons.

One of the 15 bullets struck the gunman in his head, according to Shea. The unidentified man died from the injury a couple of hours later.

While there is no official motive for the shooting yet, Shea said several witnesses told police that the man repeatedly yelled, "Kill me."

Along with the two semiautomatic firearms recovered from the shooter, NYPD also found a nearby bag filled with gasoline, wire, rope, multiple knives, tape, and a Bible, which they believed also belonged to the shooter.

Shea said that the music and caroling had stopped when the shooter made his way to the entrance of the cathedral.

Hundreds of people had been at the cathedral's annual caroling event, and many had made their way into the church to celebrate the closing of the festivities.

As the first gunshots rang out, people ducked for cover, mothers lay on top of children, and people took refuge in nearby stores.

"It's by the grace of God today that we don't have anyone struck," Shea said during the news conference.

Shana Kelly, who was filming the event for a Columbia Journalism project, detailed on Twitter the terrifying moments where she realized what was happening.

When I went to @StJohnDivineNYC today to film a Chsritmas choir for a @columbiajourn story, I had no idea that a shooter would be on those steps. I saw him. I was lying on the cement directly below where he stood on the steps. I thought I was going to die. God, I saw you. pic.twitter.com/Ore0hdE5Ea
— Shanna Kelly (@shannakelly_19) December 13, 2020

Police said they weren't identifying the shooter until fingerprints confirmed who the man was, but Shea said the initial identification pointed to a man with a lengthy criminal record.

"Our Carols for the Community event this afternoon was interrupted by an armed individual, who set off a round of gunfire into the air from our front steps," the Cathedral of St. John the Divine said on its Facebook page. "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 for prayer, meditation and celebration during the upcoming holiday season."