Posted on June 14, 2016 at 10:10 am by West Sider



Photo by Valerie.

A 48-year-old man shot himself in the leg with a gun while waiting in line at Zabar’s around 9 a.m. on Tuesday, according to police, witnesses and reports. After fleeing the scene, the man headed west on 80th street, tossed the gun in Riverside Park and checked himself into Roosevelt Hospital on 59th street.

The Wall Street Journal is reporting that the man was attempting to pay for a bagel. The Journal’s report said the shooting occurred at 9:20 a.m., while a police spokesman told us it was called in at 8:41 a.m. Based on our other reporting, it does appear the shooting occurred before 9 a.m.

“Police believe [Louis] Leston Anderson was reaching into his pocket to pay for breakfast at the popular Upper West Side cafe when the gun accidentally discharged,” the Journal reported. “In an interview with investigators at the hospital, Mr. Anderson, whose last known address is in Brooklyn, told investigators that he is homeless and found the gun near the Lincoln Tunnel at 39th Street while searching for cardboard, the official said. Mr. Anderson, who is wanted on a bench warrant for a narcotics-related arrest, didn’t say how long he has been homeless but offered to show police where he found the gun after he is released from the hospital, the official said.”

A police spokesman said the incident is under investigation and could not confirm a report in the Daily News and the Post that the man had attempted an armed robbery.

Update, Tuesday night: The newspapers have updated their stories to remove the reference to a robbery. NYPD has confirmed to us it was an accidental discharge and the man is in custody.



Photo by Stuart Rakley of the gun found in Riverside Park.

Here is what we originally published:

A shooting at Zabar’s caused police to close off the area around the store at 80th street and Broadway on Tuesday morning. Information about the shooting was still preliminary as of Tuesday morning around 10 a.m., but apparently a heavyset black man, about 5’9″ shot himself around 9:30 a.m. and then fled the building, heading westbound on 80th street. It’s not clear if the shooting was accidental or intentional.

The Daily News reports that the man is wanted in a robbery.

“Police said that a man tried to rob someone at gunpoint and accidentally shot himself inside the high end store on Broadway at W. 80th St. about 9:30 a.m. He then fled.”

Police are investigating and we will update this when we hear more.



Photo by Arif.

Thanks to everyone who sent in tips and photos.