Five people, including a police officer, have died after a shooting at a New York skyscraper.

The lone gunman died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the chest after killing the officer and four civilians, officials said.

The suspect was identified as a 27-year-old man from Las Vegas called Shane Devon Tamura, four senior law enforcement officials told Sky News’ US partner network NBC News.

New York police commissioner Jessica Tisch said at a news briefing that Tamura had a “documented mental health history” but his motive is unknown.

The police officer who was killed has been named as Didarul Islam.

The New York Police Department has paid tribute to him on X, writing: “He was protecting New Yorkers from danger when his life was tragically cut short today.

“We join in prayer during this time of incomprehensible pain. We will forever honor his legacy.”

The shooting happened at 345 Park Avenue – a skyscraper in Midtown Manhattan which houses both the headquarters of the investment firm Blackstone and the National Football League (NFL).

It also houses offices belonging to KPMG, as well as the consulate general of Ireland and a Bank of America branch.

How did the attack unfold?

Ms Tisch said in the news briefing that surveillance footage shows Tamura had gotten out of a black BMW before walking towards the building while carrying an M4 rifle.

She said the footage showed him enter the building’s lobby before turning right and opening fire on a police officer.

“He then shoots a woman who took cover behind a pillar and proceeds through the lobby, spraying it with gunfire.

“He makes his way to the elevator bank where he shoots a security guard who was taking cover behind a security desk,” Ms Tisch said.

She added that Tamura then shot a man who has since given a statement about the attack from hospital.

“The shooter then calls the elevator which opens in the lobby. A female exits that elevator and he allows her to walk past him unharmed.

“He goes up to the 33rd floor… and begins to walk the floor firing rounds as he travelled. One person was struck and killed on that floor.”

Ms Tisch said Tamura then shot himself in the chest.

Nekeisha Lewis, who was eating dinner in the plaza of the building at the time of the shooting, said: “We heard the shots, I looked up and I saw the first wall of the first floor shatter.

“I realised ‘oh my god’ this is a shootout, it felt like you were in a war zone almost. I saw a worker run out, he was running so frantically I thought he was just trying to get away.

“By the time he got to us he said ‘help, help, I’ve been shot’. I turned to my left and looked at him and saw he had a wound in his back, and my partner who was ahead of me had also looked at him and seen that he had a wound, that looked like an entry wound or an exit wound on the front, so (the bullet) might have gone all the way through.”

She added that the police then took over and helped the man get treatment.

The New York Police Department had urged people to avoid the vicinity of East 52 Street between Park Avenue and Lexington Avenue as they searched for the suspect.

It added in a post on X: “Expect emergency vehicles & delays in the surrounding area.”

It came as Dan Bongino, deputy director of the FBI, said its agents were “responding to provide support at the active crime scene in Manhattan”.

Ms Tisch later wrote on X: “UPDATE: At this time, the scene has been contained and the lone shooter has been neutralized.”

Officers close to the scene had been seen stopping cars and looking inside as the force searched for the suspect, NBC New York reported.

Video from Lexington Avenue showed a police officer stop a yellow taxi SUV, having the windows be lowered and looking in the driver’s front passenger seat and back seats with flashlight.

The Fire Department of New York has said emergency crews were called to the Park Avenue office building Monday evening for a report of someone shot.

A spokesperson said the call came in around 6.30pm local time (11.30pm UK time).

New York City Mayor Eric Adams earlier wrote on X: “New Yorkers: there is an active shooter investigation taking place in Midtown right now. Please take proper safety precautions if you are in vicinity and do not go outside if you are near Park Avenue and East 51st Street.”