NFL’s Roger Goodell told staff in a memo that an NFL employee was seriously injured during a mass shooting at a Manhattan office tower that was in stable condition at a New York hospital on Monday night.
“We believe that all employees are safe, explained and that the building is nearly clear,” Goodell wrote in a note obtained by USA Today Sports.
The gunman fatally shot four people, including New York City police officer Didalur Islam, and injured several others before committing suicide by self-harm.
In his memo, Goodell calls it “an indescribable act of violence.”
The NFL did not disclose the identity of the injured employee.
“NFL staff are in the hospital and we are supporting our families,” Goodell wrote.
The incident began around 6:30pm on Monday in a skyscraper that is also headquartered by Blackstone and other well-known financial companies. Authorities say NFL employees were immediately directed at shelters.
CNN was told by law enforcement officials that he had a paper showing that shooters were unhappy with NFL and CTE handling, or chronic traumatic encephalopathy. Officials say they are still investigating the motives for the attack.
The league has offices on the 5th to 8th floors of the tower on the 44th floor. It is unclear how many NFL employees were in during filming.
“We are deeply grateful to the law enforcement officers who responded quickly and decisively to this threat, and to the Islamic instructors who gave their lives to protect others,” Goodell wrote.
Goodell advised New York-based staff to work remotely on Tuesday, adding that if they prefer to take a break it can be understood. He emphasized that there are important resources available to employees, including grief counselors.
He also claimed that security presence would increase in the building over the next few days and weeks.
“You’re important members of the NFL family,” Goodell wrote in the closing. “We’ll get through this together.”
