The victims had just walked into the lobby at the Pedro Albizu Campos Plaza on East 12th Street just after 7:30 p.m. Thursday.
They were waiting for the elevator when the suspect walked in after them.
Surveillance video posted to social media showed the suspect opening fire at both of the men, chasing them around the lobby while others fled for safety.
21-year-old Jayden Stokes was hit in the torso. The 24-year-old man he was with was shot in the leg.
Both were taken to Bellevue Hospital, where Stokes died of his injuries.
The 24-year-old is expected to recover.
Word of his son's death has left Stokes' father heartbroken.
"My son was coming home from work, minding his business," said Antwan Stokes. "And you gunned him down in cold blood. I need you to turn yourself in. That was my son. You killed me. You took a piece of me."
The gunman remains on the loose.
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He is described as wearing a dark-colored hooded sweatshirt and a black mask.
Detectives are investigating whether at least one of the victims was the intended target, but a motive is unclear.
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