Video: Surveillance Camera Captures Empire State Building Shooting
Video footage from a nearby surveillance camera captured New York City police using deadly force on the man who murdered his former boss near the Empire State Building on Friday.
Video footage from a nearby surveillance camera captured New York City police using deadly force on the man who murdered his former boss near the Empire State Building on Friday.
The footage shows Jeffrey T. Johnson, 58, raising his handgun and pointing it at two N.Y.P.D. officers, who return fire as surrounding people scatter from the busy sidewalk near the tourist attraction.
Johnson had shot his former boss, 41-year-old Steven Ercolino, in the head moments earlier, at just after 9 a.m., on the Fifth Avenue side of the Empire State Building. After shooting Ercolino, Johnson concealed a .45-caliber handgun in a briefcase he was carrying. A construction worker who witnessed the shooting followed Johnson to the front of the building and pointed him out to officers. Johnson's gun may have jammed after he shot Ercolino, reports the New York Times.
The officers fired 16 rounds, killing Johnson and wounding nine bystanders. None suffered life-threatening injuries. Three were directly hit by police gunfire and others were struck by fragments from bullets that ricocheted off objects including concrete planters, reports CNN.
Johnson, a women's accessories designer, and Ercolino had a long-running business dispute. Until a year ago, both men worked for Hazan Import. Johnson was laid.
Johnson was facing eviction from his Upper East Side apartment, because he was no longer able to make rent on the one-bedroom co-op he had rented on East 82nd Street for about four years ago, reports the New York Post.
Related:
BLOG: NYPD's Empire State Building Shooting
NYPD Kills Active Shooter at Empire State Building, 2 Dead, 9 Wounded
More Patrol
POLICE Product Test: Streamlight Wedge SL
The Streamlight Wedge SL is a high-performance light for inspection or administrative tasks that features USB-C charging and an output up to 500 lumens in a compact package.
Read More →
NLEOMF Officer of the Month Saved Child from Burning Vehicle
The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund named Officer Michael Jaycox of the San Jose Police Department (California) as the Officer of the Month for May 2026. Read more about Jaycox’s heroic actions.
Read More →
Garmont Tactical Introduces the Contact Collection for LE
Garmont Tactical has launched its Contact Collection, a new lineup of law-enforcement duty boots featuring 4-inch and 6-inch options, including waterproof models.
Read More →
Folds of Honor Celebrates Graduation Season as 1,613 Military and First Responder Family Scholars Earn Their Degrees
Every Folds of Honor scholar graduating in the Class of 2026 carries a story starting with sacrifice. Folds of Honor ensures it doesn’t end there. Since 2007, Folds of Honor has awarded nearly 73,000 educational scholarships to military and first responder families.
Read More →
Why Tennessee’s New Deadly Force Law Matters Beyond Tennessee
Tennessee’s new deadly force law is more limited than many may realize. Effective July 1, 2026, the law applies to a person who is not engaged in conduct that would constitute a felony or a Class A misdemeanor and who is in a place where the person lawfully resides. But it could have far-reaching influence.
Read More →
When Do You Transport a Wounded Officer by Police Vehicle?
Time-sensitive injuries like penetrating trauma mean a wounded officer needs to reach a trauma center as soon as possible, and in some cases, that means transporting by police vehicle rather than waiting for EMS. What are the factors to consider in making that transport decision?
Read More →
Safariland Solis Rethinks Concealable Duty
What if Level I retention didn’t require a full duty rig? Safariland’s Solis delivers trusted ALS security in a streamlined OWB platform built for administrative and plainclothes professionals who need protection without the bulk.
Read More →
5 Things to Know When Buying Backup Lights for Patrol Use
What is the value of a backup light, and what do you need to consider when selecting one? These smaller lights are invaluable as a secondary or special-purpose light and can be easily carried in a pocket or clipped to MOLLE gear, a key chain, shirt, or a vest.
Read More →
363 Fallen Officers Honored During National Police Week
In case you missed NELOMF’s annual Candlelight Vigil, here are all 363 names of the fallen officers whose names were added to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial this year.
Read More →
NYPD Officers Who Responded Quickly During IED Incident Recognized as NLEOMF Officers of the Month
Chief Aaron Edwards and Sgt. Luis Navarro were recognized by NLEOMF as Officers of the Month for their response during an IED incident and their actions that helped prevent harm to the public.
Read More →