Empire State Building Shooting

The mother of Jeffrey T. Johnson harbors no ill will toward the NYPD. She understands why her son - who shot an ex-colleague last week before being gunned down by multiple police officers - was killed on the streets of New York City.

But that doesn't mean she understands what drove Johnson to commit such a heinous act outside the Empire State Building on August 24.

“I don’t blame police in New York for shooting my son because he killed somebody, but for me, he hasn’t changed," Ms. Johnson tells The New York Times in a new interview. "He’s still the kindhearted, caring person who loved all kinds of animals and I’m sure he loved us. You know a mother always tries to look for the best in you.”

For privacy's sake, Ms. Johnson asked for her first name to be withheld, but she did give readers a bit of insight into her child.

He moved from Japan to Georgia when he was an infant. He was nearly killed in a car accident when he was 11. His longtime cat recently died in his arms, a development that left Johnson's life "diminished tenfold" according to a letter he wrote his mother.

He joined the Coast Guard after dropping out of college and was married for four years before a divorce about three decades ago.

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Warning: the following video is graphic and disturbing in nature.

A surveillance camera at the scene of yesterday morning's Empire State Building shooting has capture the moment in which multiple police officers approach alleged murder Jeffrey Johnson and gun him down on the sidewalk.

You can see if for yourself here:

Empire State Building Shooting Suspect: Killed on Video

According to witnesses, Johnson's approached Steven Ercolino - the account executive at the company that fired Johnson last year - without saying a word.

He proceeded to pump numerous bullets into him, even standing over Ercolino's body and continuing to shoot after it was clear the victim was dead.

"Steven was a wonderful son. He was very good son and person," Frank Ercolino of Warwick, N.Y., told ABC News.

After taking Ercolino's life, Johnson walked away and was followed by a construction worked who warned two NYPD officers. They confronted Johnson, who pulled out his gun, held it up - and was shot dead by the two officers, both of whom were standing approximately eight feet away.

That's the footage recorded on the video above.

In the wake of this morning's Empire State Building shooting - in which Jeffrey Johnson is accused of killing a former coworker and wounding up to eight bystanders - New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg has issued a statement.

"Earlier this morning, a man who had been fired from his job about a year ago began shooting. He killed one person, at least nine shot. Some may have been accidentally shot by the police," Bloomberg said as a summary, adding:

"I ask everyone to keep victims in their thoughts. This is a terrible tragedy, and it would be no doubt more tragic without the heroic acts of the policemen. Every day, the police put their lives on the line to save lives bravely.

"NYC is the safest big city in the country, but we are not immune to the national problem of gun violence. This is the beginning of an investigation. Two are dead — the perpetrator and his victim. He does not appear to have a criminal record [at this time]. We're just starting this investigation."

Bloomberg is an outspoken supporter of stricter gun control laws. It will be interesting to see what sort of action, if any, he takes in response to this tragedy.

Two people were killed and at least eight others injured in a shooting spree outside the Empire State Building this morning.

A 53-year old named Jeffrey Johnson, who was shot to death by police on the scene, is suspected of starting the incident in due to a dispute with a former coworker.

In response to the tragedy, a myriad of celebrities have expressed shock and remorse over Twitter. We've included a few of their thoughts below, some of which touch on the topic of gun control...

NICKI MINAJ: "Sorry to hear about this New York shooting. Sending love to the families & friends of the victims."

KIM KARDASHIAN: "Sending my prayers to everyone involved with the Empire State Building shooting! This violence has got to stop!!!"

KHLOE KARDASHIAN: "Prayers and love being sent to the victims of the Empire State Building shooting. The violence has got to stop. #MakeAChange"

JIM CARREY "No semi auto guns!Every 2 wks now, another mass shooting.AMERICA allowing this behavior is beneath us!Revise the second ammendment."

LA LA: "This violence has to stop!Enough is enough!Sending prayers2 the victims,their families,& those wounded in the Empire State building shooting"

MARLON WAYANS: "Shooting at the EMPIRE STATE BUILDING??? Wtf? We seriously need some gun control. Not everyone can or should bare arms."

ROGER EBERT "Empire State shooting gets big coverage; 19 shot in Chicago last night."

WILLIE GARSON: "We were not at Empire State today, thanks for concern, our hearts broken for the families of more senseless madness…BE KIND TO EACH OTHER"

JENNIFER WILLIAMS: "Sending my prayers to all involved in the Empire State shooting. Such a senseless tragedy.. "

A few new details have emerged regarding this morning's shooting outside the Empire State Building in New York City.

Police have identified Jeffrey Johnson as the culprit, saying the 53-year old used a .45-caliber pistol to shoot an ex-coworker around 9 a.m. on the Fifth Avenue side of the famous structure.

Johnson, who was killed by police, was reportedly laid off from Hazan Imports about a year ago. He and the unnamed coworker he allegedly shot were the only two who died in the attack.

Sources say eight other victims were wounded in the shooting, but all are expected to recover.

Rebecca Fox, who works across the street from the Empire State Building, told CNN she was on her way to grab coffee when the chaos erupted and told the network:

"There are detectives everywhere. They are trying to map out the crime scene. I saw blood on the sidewalk. It was just a very surreal scene."

Details are still coming in, but multiple news outlets confirm that a shooting has taken place outside the Empire State Building in New York City.

According to The Associated Press, at least three civilians were wounded in the attack, while the gunman is now dead.

It's unknown if a police officer at the scene took out the shooter, but a fire department spokesman says it received a call just after 9 a.m. and sent multiple units to the scene within minutes.

The incident took place at 34th Street and Fifth Avenue.

This tragedy follows the July 20 shooting that claimed 12 lives in Aurora, Colorado; and the August 5 shooting that left seven people dead inside a Wisconsin Sikh temple.

UPDATE: Sources tell The New York Post that a total of 10 people were shot, with two killed: the gunman and an innocent bystander. The newspaper cites a "dispute between coworkers" as the basis for the melee.

UPDATE: Jeffrey Johnson has been identified as the shooter and Mayor Michael Bloomberg has issued a statement in response.