An NFL employee was seriously injured during the mass shooting at the Manhattan office tower that houses the league’s headquarters and was in stable condition at a New York hospital on Monday night, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell told staff in a memo.
‘We believe that all of our employees are otherwise safe and accounted for, and the building has nearly been cleared,’ Goodell wrote in the memo, obtained by USA TODAY Sports.
The gunman fatally shot four people, including New York city police officer Didarul Islam, and injured several others before killing himself with a self-inflicted gunshot.
Goodell, in the memo, called it ‘an unspeakable act of violence.’
The NFL did not reveal the identity of its injured employee.
‘NFL staff are at the hospital and we are supporting the family,’ Goodell wrote.
The incident began around 6:30 p.m. on Monday at the skyscraper that is also headquarters to Blackstone and other prominent financial firms. NFL employees were immediately directed to shelter-in-place, according to authorities.
CNN was told by a law enforcement official that the shooter was carrying papers indicating he had grievances with the NFL and its handling of CTE, or Chronic traumatic encephalopathy. Officials say they are still investigating what motivated the attack.
The league has offices on the fifth through eighth floors of the 44-floor tower. It is unknown how many NFL employees were on location during the shooting.
‘We are deeply grateful to the law enforcement officers who responded to this threat quickly and decisively and to Officer Islam, who gave his life to protect others,’ Goodell wrote.
Goodell advised staff based in New York to work remotely on Tuesday, adding that it is understandable if they preferred to take the day off. He emphasized that there are significant resources available for employees, including grief counselors.
He also maintained that there will be increased security presence at the building in the days and weeks to come.
‘Every one of you is a valued member of the NFL family,’ Goodell wrote in closing. ‘We will get through this together.’
(This story was updated to change a video, add new information and change a photo.)
