A fired construction worker at a Manhattan construction site returned to the job site and fatally shot his former supervisor before killing himself on Oct. 5, police say.
The incident occurred in the morning at the 645 West 59th St. site between 11th and 12th avenues.
The foreman, identified as Chris Sayers, 37, was found dead with several gunshot wounds on the 37th floor of the building, police said.
The suspected gunman was found dead of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound on the building’s fifth floor, police said. A 9 mm semi-automatic was recovered nearby.
The suspected shooter was known as a “bit of a hot head” and was fired by the foreman two days prior, NYPD Deputy Chief Christopher J. McCormack said. “It was regarding respect of himself and the workers,” McCormack said of the firing.
Update regarding shooting in construction site this morning (10/5) at W. 59 St. & 12 Ave, Manhattan. Information is preliminary. pic.twitter.com/cg4fXtTmpN
— NYPD NEWS (@NYPDnews) October 5, 2017
The accused was arrested three times prior, twice for assault and once for burglary, with the most recent arrest occurring in 2005, McCormack said.
An investigation is underway into how he was able to access the building after being fired, police said.
The construction site is part of the $2.3-billion three-tower Waterline Square development, The nearly five-acre site stretches from West 59th to West 61st Streets, and from Riverside Boulevard to Freedom Place South. The buildings, which are expected to open next year, will contain 1,132 units and include amenities such as restaurants and an indoor tennis court, The New York Times reports.
