BREAKING: Two dead in Astor Place shooting as NYU warns students to avoid the area

Police have closed off much of the area near NYU’s Journalism building

Two people were shot nearby Cooper Square and Astor Place this morning at 8 a.m, NBC News and New York Daily News have both confirmed. Witnesses claim to have seen the incident occur on "the Western Block of Cooper Union."

The NYPD are investigating the incident as a potential murder suicide, as detailed by ABC News. According to reports, a 62-year old man walked up to his 56-year old girlfriend and shot her in the chest, before turning the gun on himself.

Both were pronounced dead after being rushed to Bellevue Hospital, according to ABC News.

The incident took place in the vicinity of the NYU's Cooper Square building, which house both the Journalism and Social and Cultural Analysis majors. No NYU students are reported to have been involved at the scene but NYU Public Safety did issue a tweet this morning, warning students to stay away from the area.

This story is developing.

If you are an NYU student who witnessed the incident or would like to offer comment, please contact us at [email protected]

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