UPDATE: New York (CNN) -- A shooting and subsequent gun battle at the Empire State Building in New York killed two people and wounded at least nine others Friday, authorities said.
The shooter was one of the two killed, investigators said. They identified him as Jeffrey Johnson, 53, who was laid off last year and apparently killed a former co-worker Friday morning.
A construction worker followed the suspect and alerted officers. The suspect, using a .45-caliber semi-automatic handgun, then fired on police and they returned fire, killing him, said Police Commissioner Ray Kelly.
Most of the injuries apparently occurred during the exchange of gunfire, and some may have been hit by shots fired by police officers, Mayor Michael Bloomberg said.
Johnson had worked as a designer of women's accessories at Hazan Imports, police said.
Witnesses said police shot the man at least three times.
"It's just a crazy scene here," said Rebecca Fox, who works across the street from the famous skyscraper. She said she had been getting coffee with her headphones on when she saw people running.
Fox said she saw a woman who had been shot near a brewery, as well as blood splattered on the sidewalk.
One witness -- 22-year-old Max Kaplan -- said he heard at least nine shots and saw ambulances race to the scene.
"We're all very shaken up at the office," he said.
Aaron Herman, a CNN iReporter, painted a portrait of confusion.
"It was a little chaotic, police had barricaded the area and I saw one woman who was a victim, I think she had been grazed," he said. "Some said they heard around three 'pops' and ran into nearby local stores to be safe."
The White House said top aides told President Barack Obama about the shooting around 9:30 a.m. The shooting does not appear to be linked to terrorism, authorities said.
Local and federal authorities who converged on the building around 9 a.m. closed several streets around 5th Avenue and 34th Street, snarling traffic in the heart of Manhattan.
Shortly after the incident, Manhattan's Bellevue Medical Center reported that it was treating six victims suffering from gunshot wounds, who were at the Empire State Building Friday. All the injuries were not life threatening, according to hospital spokeswoman Alice Ramos.
The Empire State Building is one of the most famous skyscrapers in the world and one of New York City's best-known tourist attractions.
Each year, about 4 million people visit the building's two observation decks. At more than 1,453 feet tall, the landmark building reaches more than a quarter-mile into the sky.
The area typically has a large security presence.
"There's always a focus and concentration on the building," said retired police officer Lou Palumbo
"That building gets special attention."
The Empire State Building Company said in a statement Friday that "the building is fully operational at this time," and that police are investigating the incident.
[Updated at 11:26 a.m. ET] A disgruntled former employee of a business inside the Empire State Building shot a former coworker in the head in a dispute outside the building, New York Police Commissioner Ray Kelly said.
As suspect Jeffrey Johnson tried to flee the scene, he pulled a .45 caliber pistol on two approaching police officers, who opened fire on him. Nine people were wounded or grazed by gunfire in the crossfire, Kelly said.
"Some may have been accidentally shot by police officers," Kelly said.
[Updated at 11:08 a.m. ET] The Empire State Building is fully operational after ten people were shot outside the popular tourist destination this morning, leaving at least two dead.
Building representatives released a statement saying the New York Police Department is concluding its investigation that occurred shortly after 9 a.m.
Updated at 10:40 a.m. ET - New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg is expected to speak at 11 a.m. after a shooting outside the Empire State Building Friday morning left at least two dead, including the suspected gunman.
Watch the news conference live on CNN TV and on CNN.com.
There is no apparent link to terrorism, a law enforcement official said.
Police shot the suspect, whose body is still lying outside the building covered in a sheet, witnesses said.
A woman was also killed in the shooting, which occurred as people were lining up to gain entry to the busy tourist destination on 34 Street and Fifth Avenue.
An elevator worker from inside the Empire State Building ran outside and began chasing the alleged shooter, CNN producer Rose Arce said. At some point police, who were apparently inside the building, were alerted and chased and the alleged shooter.
[Updated at 10:33 a.m. ET] The body of the alleged shooter is lying outside the entrance to the Empire State Building after a shooting broke out Friday morning, leaving at least two dead, New York City officials said.
A woman was also killed in the shooting, which occurred as people were lining up to gain entry to the busy tourist destination.
An elevator worker from inside the Empire State Building ran outside and began chasing the alleged shooter, CNN producer Rose Arce said. At some point police, who were apparently inside the building, were alerted and chased and the alleged shooter.
Arce talked to several international tourists who were standing around. "They were completely stunned by what happened and were screaming," Arce reports.
[Updated at 10:17 a.m. ET] Ten people were shot outside the Empire State Building, leaving two dead, including the gunman, New York City officials said.
A witness told CNN she saw a man lying in the middle of the street surrounded by police.
"I saw blood on the sidewalk," Rebecca Fox said. "It was a very surreal scene."
[Updated at 10:09 a.m. ET] A suspect started shooting outside the Empire State Building this morning, killing at least one person, New York city officials say.
The suspect had a "large gun," a witness told CNN.
[Updated at 9:55 a.m. ET] - At least 10 people were shot Friday in front of the Empire State Building in New York Friday morning, the New York Office of Emergency Management said.
A suspect in the shooting was shot and killed by police, New York police said.
Authorities converged on the building around 9 a.m. after reports of gunfire.
A witness told CNN's Rose Arce that the gunman ran after and shot a man in the head. An unarmed guard chased the gunman away, the witness told Arce.
Police have closed several streets around 5th Avenue and 34th Street in Manhattan.
New York resident Max Kaplan, 22, said he heard at least nine gunshots. He said several ambulances have arrived at the scene.
"We're all very shaken up at the office," he said.
The Empire State Building is one of the most famous skyscrapers in the world, and one of New York City's best-known tourist attractions.
Each year, about 4 million people visit the building's two observation decks. At more than 1,453 feet tall, the landmark building reaches more than a quarter-mile into the sky.
UPDATE 9:55 a.m. ET - A gunman believed to be responsible in the shooting of at least five people in front of the Empire State Building in New York was shot and killed by police, New York police said.
New York (CNN) -- As many as five people were shot Friday in front of the Empire State Building in New York, a spokesman for the New York Fire Department said.
Authorities converged on the building around 9 a.m. after reports of gunfire.
Additional details were not immediately available.
Police responded to the Empire State Building in New York after several people were shot Friday.
