Residents of a New York high-rise have been left fearing for their lives amid a spate of shootings directed at the apartment building over the weekend.

An unidentified gunman has been targeting One East River Place – located in the city’s Upper East Side – from across the water on Roosevelt Island, law enforcement sources told The New York Post.

The first shooting, understood to have taken place overnight between Thursday and Friday, was reportedly directed at an apartment on the 14th floor of the building. The tenant awoke on Friday morning to find the living room floor strewn with smashed glass.

Less than 24 hours later, an apartment on the 32nd floor of the building was allegedly targeted by the gunman. This time, the apartment’s tenant was woken in the early hours of Saturday morning by the shattering of the living-room window.

Police reportedly matched the timing of the second shooting with 911 calls from an apartment building on Roosevelt Island – 1,400ft across the East River – which had reported suspected gun shots.

Investigators “think it’s some a**hole standing on a balcony shooting across the river,” an NYPD insider told The New York Post.

Residents of One East River Place have spoken of their fear following the shootings.

“I’m petrified for my life,” said Ilene Epstein, 55, who lives in a river-facing apartment in the building.

Roosevelt Island can be seen on the right of the East River (Bloomberg via Getty Images)

“I moved into this apartment because of the river. I have beautiful views,” said Ms Epstein. “[But] I’ll move out of my building before I walk around with a bulletproof vest.”

Arik Cohen, a 45th-floor resident, said: “What world do I live in? Who shoots randomly?”

“My wife is in Long Island with our baby. Maybe I should call her and tell her to stay there for a few days,” added Mr Cohen, a 37-year-old computer programmer.