Woman grazed in head, 3 others injured, during wedding at Waldorf Astoria after man accidentally fired gun: sources
NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
Published: Saturday, June 13, 2015, 7:57 PM
Updated: Sunday, June 14, 2015, 11:11 AM
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![A woman, possibly a victim of an earlier shooting incident at a wedding at the Waldorf Astoria, leaves the 18th Precinct, Manhattan, New York. Saturday, June 13th. (Angus Mordant for New York Daily News) Maya Rafailovich WALDORF WEDDING SHOOTING MANHATTAN *SHOOTING* PARK AVE / E 50 ST AT THE WALDORF ASTORIA HOTEL - FEMALE VICTIM SHOT IN THE LOBBY OF THE HOTEL * 19:34:54 MNS10 * (C) [MNS106]](http://assets.nydailynews.com/polopoly_fs/1.2257578.1434256276!/img/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/article_rotator_thumbs_50_50/article-waldorf-15-0613.jpg)
![Maya Rafailovich WALDORF WEDDING SHOOTING MANHATTAN *SHOOTING* PARK AVE / E 50 ST AT THE WALDORF ASTORIA HOTEL - FEMALE VICTIM SHOT IN THE LOBBY OF THE HOTEL * 19:34:54 MNS10 * (C) [MNS106]](http://assets.nydailynews.com/polopoly_fs/1.2257514.1434250644!/img/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/article_rotator_thumbs_50_50/article-waldorf-12-0613.jpg)
![Maya Rafailovich WALDORF WEDDING SHOOTING MANHATTAN *SHOOTING* PARK AVE / E 50 ST AT THE WALDORF ASTORIA HOTEL - FEMALE VICTIM SHOT IN THE LOBBY OF THE HOTEL * 19:34:54 MNS10 * (C) [MNS106]](http://assets.nydailynews.com/polopoly_fs/1.2257518.1434250966!/img/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/article_rotator_thumbs_50_50/article-waldorf-10-0613.jpg)
Maya Rafailovich's wound is visible as she smokes a cigarette after being grazed by bullet in the head at Waldorf Astoria Hotel on Saturday.
A swanky wedding at the elegant Waldorf-Astoria turned into bloody chaos Saturday when a guest’s gun accidentally went off — grazing a woman in the head and wounding three other revelers, cops said.
Victim Maya Rafailovich, 55, was rushed to Bellevue Hospital in her black cocktail dress, blood streaming down her face, cops and witnesses said.
Wedding photos were being taken in the Park Ave. hotel’s lobby about 7:30 p.m. when Vladimir Gutlbovsky, 42, fired into the floor, sending the bullet ricocheting toward Rafailovich.
An NYPD source said the weapon was in the man’s pocket and it went off as he was retrieving his seating card.
“It’s looking accidental — there’s a hole in his pocket. The woman hit was in no way the intended target,” the source said.
“We need to know what happened. Guns just don’t go off,” the source added. “And we know it wasn’t a shotgun wedding.”
Three other victims — a 38-year-old woman, a 45-year-old woman and a 59-year-old man — were rushed to area hospitals after suffering leg injuries, sources said.
They were hit by debris — “glass, marble, tile” — from the round striking the ground, said Manhattan Chief of Detectives William Aubry.
Gutlbovsky was apprehended at the scene and told cops he’s a licensed permit holder — but the weapon was not initially recovered, sources said.
Investigators believe he panicked and handed off the gun to someone else, sources said.
Detectives were seen rooting through nearby garbage cans in search of the firearm.
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A man suspected in Waldorf Astoria shooting sits in back of police cruiser on Saturday.
The gunman and two other people were being questioned at the Midtown North Precinct stationhouse Saturday night, Aubry said.
Rafailovich was released from the hospital late Saturday.
“It’s unbelievable, unbelievable,” said shaken sister Dora Rafailovich, after speaking to her sibling by phone.
“She’s in pain now, but she’s OK.”
Dora Rafailovich said her sister didn’t have time to react.
“Her husband was taking her picture. In this moment, something happened,” Dora added.
Wedding singer Roxanne Freedove said the shooting caused the reception to be cut short and led to the cancellation of her band’s performance.
“I just feel bad for the bride,” Freedove said. “Could you imagine that happening on your wedding day? It was terrible.”
The singer said she walked into the lobby just after the shooting and saw the victim lying on a stretcher.
“Her head was bandaged, but I could still see blood on her face,” she said.
“The cops kept all of the guests in a room below the ballroom so they could talk to them and we were up in the ballroom with all the food and all the flowers and the room just looked beautiful,” Freedove added. “If I were the bride, I would make that guy pay for everything. I can’t imagine how much money they spent on the wedding — and to have this happen.”
The shooting stunned well-heeled guests staying at the hotel, which regularly caters to world leaders and A-list celebrities.
“We came to the Waldorf for the prestige and history,” said Abbi Lauren Curtis, 17, a tourist from South Carolina. “A gun going off is shocking.”
“How could that happen here?” asked a 53-year-old tourist from Holland who identified himself as Anthony. “That’s horrible. I come here and I always hear New York is dangerous, but come on? Even at the Waldorf?”
A man at the front desk who identified himself as Marco said the hotel had no comment.
The incident marks the first shooting at the famed hotel since 2008, when a gunman opened fire during a botched robbery and hit a retired cop in the chest.
Former Brooklyn Detective Gregory Boyle, then 54 and working security at a jewelry shop, was shot as he grappled with the gunman. The bullet broke three of his ribs and lodged in his back — but Boyle survived.
The bandit, 20-year-old Rafael Rabinovich-Ardans, was arrested at the scene.
This is a breaking story. Check back for updates.
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How can this be, DeBlasio and Bratton told use crimes down.
If they can't protect the Oligarchy at the Waldorf what chance do use little people have?
ok sarcasm mode off.
If they can't protect the Oligarchy at the Waldorf what chance do use little people have?
ok sarcasm mode off.
Four people hurt and the gun went of accidentally? What was it, a Uzi?
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