[UPDATE BELOW] Two men robbed a jewelry store near Rockefeller Center earlier this afternoon, and the NYPD says the suspects, one of whom is armed, may still be in the area.
According to police, at around 2:29 p.m. today the two suspects entered a jewelry store on the eighth floor of 23 West 47th Street, between 5th and 6th Avenues. One suspect had a gun and pistol-whipped the store owner. Then, according to police, the suspects fled with an unknown amount of jewelry.
An NYPD spokesperson told us that officers are still searching the area for the suspects, and according to NBC News, SWAT teams and the NYPD emergency service unit have cleared out the building. DNAinfo reports that as of 3:30 p.m., police had blocked off 47th Street between 5th and 6th Avenues.
U/D Manhattan: 27 West 47th St Manhattan Diamond District NYPD Reporting possible 2 gunman reportedly still inside. pic.twitter.com/8n8esi519b
— NY Scanner (@NYScanner) November 11, 2014
47th street in midtown is shut down as NYPD deals with an alleged armed suspect holed up after botched diamond raid. pic.twitter.com/R8R1mScJ8j
— Josiah Daniel Ryan (@JosiahRyan) November 11, 2014
The scene outside our office, where an armed jewelry heist is apparently taking place. pic.twitter.com/4qtTK7Myep
— Mara Gay (@MaraGay) November 11, 2014
At least 2 helos above, a swat team, dozens of police vehicles, and K9 team. NYPD taking no chances here pic.twitter.com/M3lJAW1MYr
— Josiah Daniel Ryan (@JosiahRyan) November 11, 2014
U/D Manhattan: West 47th St and 5th Ave NYPD is looking for 2 males black 1 wearing a suit and second perp hoodie. pic.twitter.com/iL1JiLXSlI
— NY Scanner (@NYScanner) November 11, 2014
We'll update as more information becomes available.
Update 5:13 p.m.: According to livetweets from The Blaze reporter Josiah Ryan, 47th Street between 5th and 6th Avenues is still shut down as the NYPD continues to hunt for the suspects.
Hundreds of workers are stuck here. Their keys purses etc in their offices. Part of 6th ave now shut down. Chaos. pic.twitter.com/LFW1r1W0Ip
— Josiah Daniel Ryan (@JosiahRyan) November 11, 2014
As of 5:16 p.m., no arrests have been made.
The #NYPD is searching for suspect(s) in #DiamondDistrict now. Law enforcement is everywhere. SWAT teams R on the go. pic.twitter.com/XgDHoKnXHt
— Dan Scavino Jr. (@DanScavino) November 11, 2014
