Home Depot Worker Fatally Shoots Co-Worker, Self

An employee at a Manhattan Home Depot argued with a co-worker and fatally shot him before killing himself Sunday afternoon, police said.

The shootings occurred at about 2:30 p.m. inside the crowded store on West 23rd Street.

Hundreds of store employees and customers scrambled for safety when the gunfire erupted, witnesses said.

Police say 31-year-old Calvin Esdaile exchanged words with his co-worker, 38-year-old Sy Moctar, pulled out a gun and shot him multiple times.

Esdaile then shot himself in the head, police said. Moctar was Esdaile's supervisor, sources said.

"It sounded like fireworks, but more because it's enclosed, so you could hear the echoes," said Emilio Bantero, who was shopping inside the store.

Investigators didn't disclose the nature of the argument that led to the shooting.

"We're deeply saddened by this tragedy," said Stephen Holmes, a spokesman for Home Depot. "We are fully cooperating with the authorities on their investigation of what appears to have been an isolated incident."

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