Nine people wounded by police fire in NY shooting

A policeman in riot gear keeps guard at the scene of a shooting near the Empire State Building in New York Aug 24, 2012. A man fatally shot a former co-worker near the Empire State Building on Friday and then was killed by police in a gun battle that wounded eight bystanders, created chaos and shocked commuters and tourists outside one of New York's most popular landmarks. [Photo/Agencies]

NEW YORK - The Empire State Building shooting left nine people wounded by friendly fire from two police officers, New York police chief said on Saturday.

All nine people suffered minor injuries and were expected to survive. The incident was caused by a shootout between the police and a gunman named Jeffrey Johnson.

According to the New York Police Department (NYPD), officer Craig Matthews shot seven times, and officer Robert Sinishtaj fired nine times. Though Johnson was killed, nine other people were also bleeding on the sidewalk.

Based on ballistic evidences, "all nine victims were injured either by fragments or by bullets fired by police," NYPD Commissioner Raymond Kelly said.

The two police officers had little time to react when Johnson whirled around and pointed a pistol at them, Kelly added.

"We have on tape the perpetrator pulled his gun out and tried to shoot at the cops," New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg said earlier.