Crowds flee in terror as gunman kills three at city’s bank building

A GUNMAN opened fire at a building in the heart of the US city of Cincinnati in an attack that left him and three other people dead.

The shooting led to widespread panic, with people scrambling across the city’s Fountain Square to escape.

The incident took place at a 30-storey building, home to the corporate headquarters for regional banker Fifth Third and other businesses, including popular ice cream, pastry and sandwich shops.

The bank building was locked down for most of the morning, and surrounding closed off.

Police chief Eliot Isaac said the shooter opened fire just after 9am local time at the loading dock of the Fifth Third Bank building.

Mr Isaac said the gunman then entered the bank’s lobby where he exchanged gunfire with police. streets were It is unclear if the gunman shot himself or was shot by officers.

Michael Richardson, who works in the bank building, told

that he was standing outside the entrance when he heard gunshots in the lobby.

“I looked behind me and saw the guy – he shot and then he shot again. After that I started running.”

Federal agents were on the scene as police searched through the building.

One of the victims died at the scene.

Two more died at University of Cincinnati Medical Centre. A spokeswoman said one victim remains in a critical condition and another was listed as serious. All four suffered gunshot wounds, she said.

Cincinnati mayor John Cranley said the gunman was “actively shooting innocent victims”.