NYPD Shoots Dead Man At Cathedral Of St John The Divine: Reports

NEW YORK, NY — A man was shot and killed by police outside the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in the Morningside Heights neighborhood Sunday afternoon.

Police arrived outside the church just before 4 p.m. and were shot at by the man, according to a report from ABC 7 New York. The officers returned fire and struck the man, the report states. He was taken to Mount Sinai Morningside Hospital in critical condition.

He later died, the Gothamist and others have reported.

The shooting unfolded after an outdoor Christmas concert at the church near the corner of 112th Street and Amsterdam Avenue, Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer said on Twitter. Brewer said her chief of staff and press secretary were at the concert, but were not injured.

Witnesses told police the man yelled out "kill me" as the shooting unfolded, the Gothamist reported.

Jessica Mates, Brewer's chief of staff, told the news website that people were running to the doors of the church to take shelter inside as the shots rang out. The group stayed inside for about an hour.

Mates told the Gothamist police told her the shooting was likely a "suicide-by-cop" scenario.

ADVISORY: Please avoid the area of West 112 Street and Amsterdam Avenue in Manhattan due to a police involved shooting. Expect a large police presence and traffic delays in the area. pic.twitter.com/7qGqv3iDEr
— NYPD NEWS (@NYPDnews) December 13, 2020

Mark Levine, a New York City councilmember representing District 7, said the man climbed the scaffolding inside the church during the service and began shooting "indiscriminately" in the air.

"He was yelling that he wanted to be killed," Levine said on Twitter. "Police arrived quickly. The suspect was shot. His condition is unclear but it appears he has died."

No one else was injured in the shooting, Levine said.

It wasn't clear if the gunman was aiming at people or firing in the air, according to a report from The Associated Press.

“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. Thankfully, no injuries were reported among the attendees and the suspect is in custody," cathedral spokeswoman Iva Benson told the AP.

“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.”