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Three Of Nine Bystanders Hit By Gunfire Near ESB Remain Hospitalized

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) - Three of the nine bystanders hit by gunfire during Friday's Empire State Building shooting remained hospitalized on Saturday morning.

1010 WINS reporter Carol D'Auria reports...

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Police Commissioner Ray Kelly confirmed on Saturday that all nine bystanders were hit by police officers' bullets. Six of the nine were hit by bullet fragments, while the other three were hit directly by bullets.

PHOTO GALLERY: Deadly Shooting Near Empire State Building

Police said that none of their injuries are life-threatening, however the experience was definitely life-altering.

Robert Asika was among those hit. He was starting his work day outside the Empire State Building when bullets started flying.

"I didn't even know until I got to the end of the street and I saw the blood," Asika told CBS 2. "So I just fell to the ground, crawled to the end of the street and just laid right there."

The three remaining victims are being treated at Bellevue Hospital.

Experts told CBS 2's Dave Carlin that he officers on the scene responded with the appropriate amount of force.

"If the officers are being threatened with deadly physical force the officers are allowed to use deadly physical force," explained David Boehm, CEO of Security USA.

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