Times Square shooting leaves several injured; suspect in custody despite ‘gun-free zone’ status
PTC Web Desk: New York’s iconic Times Square, a bustling hub for tourists and locals alike, turned into a scene of chaos on Friday night following a shooting incident. According to multiple reports, at least three persons were injured, though some accounts suggest the number of victims could be higher.
Eyewitnesses and social media footage revealed bodies lying on the ground and bullet holes in car windows. One suspect, reportedly a minor, has been taken into custody.
A video shared by a local crime reporter shows police officers assisting victims as bystanders look on. The cameraman, who claimed he was just two cars ahead of the vehicle that came under fire, was instructed by officers to move away from the crime scene as they cordoned off the area.
The incident occurred less than a mile from Midtown North Precinct — approximately 0.7 miles from Times Square. It comes just weeks after a deadly July shooting in Manhattan, in which Las Vegas resident Shane Tamura opened fire inside a midtown building, killing at least four persons.
Despite being designated as a “gun-free zone” in 2022 under New York’s sweeping state gun control law, Times Square has continued to see violent incidents. In 2024, The New York Post reported that both a tourist and a police officer were shot during a botched robbery in the same area.
Authorities are yet to disclose the motive behind Friday night’s shooting.
- With inputs from agencies
