Bronx shooting: Doctor turns gun on himself as one dead, six injured in New York Hospital rampage

Man, said to be disgruntled ex-employee, hid rifle under white coat before attacking former medical colleagues

The hospital was placed on lockdown during the incident (REUTERS)

A disgruntled former employee of a New York City hospital who shot dead at one person while injuring six others has died, after turning the gun on himself.

The gunman, named by law enforcement as Dr Henry Bello, reportedly opened fire with an assault rifle just before 3pm. He had hidden the rifle under a white lab coat, police said.

Officials indicated the gun may have been an AR-15, which is a common assault weapon based on a military rifle, and has been used in mass shootings before.

“We’ve had a real tragedy here in the Bronx this afternoon, it’s something we’ve seen around the country. Now, we've experienced it here,” New York Mayor Bill De Blasio said during a press conference outside the hospital.

“This was a horrific situation unfolding in the middle of a place that people associate with care and comfort. A situation that came out of nowhere. But, even in the midst of this horror, there were many, many acts of heroism.”

After reports of the shooting, the hospital was immediately placed on lockdown as police combed the hospital trying to find the active gunman. The fire department, meanwhile, responded to reports of multiple fires within the hospital – which officials said may have been started when the shooter tried to set himself on fire.

At least three doctors were among those who have been shot, according to reports. One woman was found dead, and a total of six victims were also injured and were taken to the hospital's emergency room. Five of those victims were seriously injured, and one had suffered a gunshot wound to the leg.

Emergency service radio fire department chatter had indicated that the shooter was allegedly a male dressed as a doctor when he opened fire. Since he was previously employed at the hospital, that would indicate that the shooter would have had a strong knowledge of the facilities.

The Joint Counter Terror Task force was reportedly activated to respond to the shooting. Special agents with the New York Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives were also responding to the incident at the hospital, the bureau tweeted.

Police cars and fire trucks could be seen surrounding the hospital after the shooting was reported. At one point, police were seen on the roof of the building, guns drawn.

The White House has been informed of the shooting, and the President is reportedly aware of the situation.

The Bronx-Lebanon Hospital Centre is one of the largest health care facilities in the Bronx, and New York City as well. The facilities claim to have nearly 1,000 beds across multiple units. It is about a mile and a half north of the famed Yankee Stadium, and is reportedly has one of the busiest emergency rooms in New York.