City Councilman James E. Davis was shot dead at City Hall after an assailant opened fire on the building. Another person was shot and injured. Mayor Bloomberg said, "This is a terrible attack, not just on two people - and they are in our prayers - but this is an attack on democracy.'' Councilman Davis, who was black and a former police officer "joined the police force after being assaulted by two white police officers" according to the Times.

Updated: From Newsday - "The shooter was a political opponent of Davis, and had accompanied the councilman into the building before the shooting, a police source told the Associated Press. The gunman's ties to the councilman apparently allowed him to bypass security, the source said."

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