A gunman has died in hospital after being shot by police outside a church in New York

On December 13, 2020, a gunman opened fire outside the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in New York before being killed by police.

Outside the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Manhattan, New York, a man opened fire in the vicinity of a concert attended by more than 200 people Wednesday afternoon. Police were called to the scene and opened fire on the gunman. No police officers or bystanders were injured, but the gunman was seriously injured and hospitalized.

The shooting broke out around 4pm on Sunday, about 15 or 20 minutes after people started leaving the outdoor carol concert. There were only about a dozen bystanders at the scene.

AFP witnesses said the man opened fire as he stood on the steps of the Cathedral of St John the Divine in Manhattan. The gunman opened fire aimlessly, Shouting “Shoot me, kill me!”

A spokesman for the New York City Police Department said the gunman opened fire on officers, but thankfully no officers or passers-by were injured. Police later raised two weapons at the scene.

On December 13, 2020, a gunman opened fire outside the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in New York before being killed by police. Police officers stand guard outside the church.

Authorities have not named the gunman, who was in critical condition and rushed to a local hospital, a spokesman said.

Reuters news agency reports the gunman was eventually taken to hospital.