Questions remain surrounding the gunman who opened fire outside the Empire State buildingFriday, but some speculate Jeffrey Johnson knew he was going to die.
Prior to the shooting, the 58-year old was facing eviction, which some believe caused him to take out his mounting frustrations by killing former coworker Steve Ercolino.
Police sources told The New York Post, "This [eviction] was the final straw that pushed him over the edge. He was blaming the victim for being out of work, having no money and now having no apartment.”
Johnson, who has been described as "very mellow, very lonely" by his building superintendent, was laid off nearly a year ago from Hazan Imports where he and Ercolino had worked together. Johnson was a women's accessories designer for the company.
While at Hazan Imports, the two reportedly had a confrontational relationship , once even getting into a physical fight in an elevator.
Since the shooting, some speculate Johnson planned on dying Friday when he, without a word, shot and killed Ercolino outside Hazan.
After shooting Ercolino, he walked away from the building. When police followed, he aimed his weapon at the cops.
The NYPD fired 16 rounds, killing Johnson. The chaotic shootout wounded nine bystanders, all hit by NYPD bullets.
Ercolino's wake is scheduled for Wednesday at Our Lady Sorrows Church in White Plains, New York.
Paul Ercolino, the victim's brother, issued a sharp criticism over media coverage of the tragedy, calling it "horrific journalism" for what he believes has been an insensitive display of bloody pictures and headlines. He told WFAN's Boomber Esiason and Craig Carton:
"The … headlines and the pictures that were in the New York Post and the New York Times that my family had to see and endure, to see those pictures that were the most horrific pictures. They gave Osama bin Laden more respect and dignity than my brother, sprawled over the — with blood coming from him. So I would just make a plea to everyone who’s out there that are reading these stories: there’s a family behind, grieving and dying for one of their own right now. And we need all your support.”