PRESS OFFICE
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern)
630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Tel: (212)-686-0710
Fax: (212)-689-1934

December 2, 2008

Communiqué

In the early morning hours of November 30, a shooting incident took
place in the vicinity of Second Avenue and 35th Street in New York
City, directly in front of St. Vartan Armenian Cathedral. The
incident was reported in local press reports which mentioned the
cathedral’s proximity; these subsequently initiated concerned
inquiries to the Diocesan Center. This communiqué is meant to address
those inquiries.

The shooting took place on the street outside the cathedral. A renter
with no affiliation to the cathedral or to the Armenian community had
rented the Diocesan Center’s auditorium for a private function, for
which all due security and permits had been secured. After 4:00 a.m.,
as the event ended and the guests dispersed to the street, a crowd
formed on Second Avenue. There, an unidentified gunman fired shots
into the crowd. Two of the three victims receiving minor injuries
were guests at the event; a third was a security guard, one of several
routinely hired by the Diocesan facilities manager for such occasions.

Contrary to some published reports, no staff members of the Diocesan
Center were injured in the episode.

The three shooting victims were taken to hospital and pronounced in
stable condition, and were subsequently discharged after receiving
basic care. We pray they will make a full recovery.

The New York City police have stated that they are still investigating
the matter, and have not determined whether the shooting was related
to the crowd, or was a random occurrence of street crime. Police have
announced no suspects, nor made any arrest in the incident.

DIVAN OF THE DIOCESE

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