A disgruntled employee, who had been sacked a year ago, killed a co-worker outside the iconic Empire State Building in New York on Friday morning before he was gunned down by police officers.
Nine people were injured in the exchange of fire.
While authorities have said the shooting was not terrorism related, US President Barack Obama was notified by his top counter-terrorism official John Brennan.
The shooter, Jeffrey Johnson, 53, worked for a women’s apparel company as a designer till last year. The victim, 41, was a co-worker.
Johnson shot the victim in the head from close range, said New York police commissioner Raymond Kelly. He then put the gun back in a bag and left. When he was intercepted by police, he opened fire, and was killed in the encounter.