Three Dead In Harlem Shooting Where Fire Broke Out, NYPD Says

HARLEM, NY — Three people were found shot dead Friday in a Harlem building where a two-alarm fire broke out, police and fire officials said.

Officers responding to the building on West 131st Street between Fifth and Lenox avenues after receiving a report of shots fired at the location found a 78-year-old man suffering a gunshot wound to the head in the first floor hallway, police officials said. Shortly after, a man shouted "come and get it" from a first-floor apartment and barricaded himself inside the home, police said.

Smoke started emanating from the apartment shortly after the man barricaded himself inside, police said. Officers from the Emergency Services Unit then gained entry to the unit and found a 59-year-old man suffering what appears to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound and firefighters extinguished a blaze inside the home, NYPD Deputy Chief Martine Materasso said during a press conference.

The third victim, a 62-year old woman, was found suffering a gunshot wound to the head in the second floor hallway during a search of the building, police said.

A preliminary investigation leads police to believe that the two men were arguing when the 59-year-old shot the other man in the head. The gunman then walked up to the second floor and shot the woman before barricading himself inside his apartment and shooting himself, police said. Two guns were found in the man's apartment, NYPD officials said.

More than 25 fire and ems units with more than 100 personnel responded to the scene of the fire, an FDNY spokesman said. The spokesman could not confirm the cause of the firm.