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Breaking News

Three Dead Near Times Square after Shooting

Aired September 16, 2002 - 10:41   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: And now, let's get to this developing story out of New York City. Word of at least three people being shot in Times Square, broad daylight this happened this morning.
CNN's Maria Hinojosa has just arrived there on the scene. Check in now and get the latest from her -- Maria, what have you been able to learn?

MARIA HINOJOSA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Leon, it is a rough way to begin the week here in New York City with this information that three people are dead, about two blocks south of Times Square. The shooting took place about 8:25 this morning, according to police, and it took place in offices that are leased by Empire Blue Cross and Blue Shield. We have another live camera that can give you a sense of the location where we are at, just at 41st and Broadway behind me.

Now, according to police, when we asked them if these people who were shot were Empire Blue Cross employees, they said it looked like they were. When we asked them if they were looking for a suspect, they said, we are not looking for anyone. They have not confirmed this, but local media are saying that this may have been a murder suicide by a Blue Cross Blue Shield employee, though again, the police have not confirmed that. The shooting took place on the 11th floor. The Associated Press is reporting that perhaps it may have even been the shooter who called 911 early this morning.

We have received no comment yet from Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield. They said that they will be presenting us with a comment, a paper comment sometime soon, that they are cooperating with the police.

And at this point, that is what we have, other offices located in this building at 14:40 Broadway include the offices of Liz Claiborne and Max Capital Management Corporation. That is all we have right now. A lot of commotion here, people -- lots of tourists, people getting to work, and of course, a scene of a lot commotion, lots of police vehicles, some streets blocked off because of what we are seeing here just south of Times Square -- Leon.

HARRIS: Maria, any idea how many people may have been working in the office at that time?

HINOJOSA: It was early in the morning. We haven't heard yet from the police, but 8:30 in the morning, still people straggling in. This is, of course, Yom Kippur, the Jewish day of atonement. Some people may have not been in the offices, but we do not have exact numbers yet. What we have heard is that police are still, last we heard, are doing a floor by floor check. Soon after the shooting, they had told people to stay in their floors. But again, when we asked the police if they were looking for a suspect, they said We are not looking for anyone, which may give us the sense that perhaps it was a murder- suicide they have not confirmed that yet for us -- Leon.

HARRIS: All right. Maria Hinojosa reporting for us just off Times Square in New York. Thank you very much, get back to you later on on this story.

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