The bright lights of Times Square turned to flashing red and blue early Saturday morning after a burst of gunfire left three people injured and sent crowds scrambling for safety. Police say a 17-year-old suspect is in custody in connection with the shooting.
According to the New York Police Department, the violence broke out at around 1:20 a.m. near the intersection of West 44th Street and Seventh Avenue, a spot better known for Broadway billboards and bustling tourists than for gunfire. Investigators believe the incident began with a verbal altercation between two people that escalated into an exchange of shots.
Authorities identified the injured as a 19-year-old man shot in the right foot, a 65-year-old man struck in the left leg, and an 18-year-old woman who sustained a grazing wound to her neck. All three victims were rushed to Bellevue Hospital, where they remain in stable condition. None of the injuries is considered life-threatening.
In the seconds after the shots rang out, the packed sidewalks of Times Square erupted into chaos. Videos posted on social media show tourists and late-night passersby bolting away from the Hard Rock Cafe, one of the area’s most recognizable landmarks.
One clip, apparently recorded from across the street, captures people ducking behind barriers while emergency responders rush to the side of a man lying motionless on the pavement. Another video shows a dark-colored sedan pulled to the curb outside the restaurant, its windows pockmarked with what appear to be bullet holes.
Witnesses described hearing multiple gunshots before seeing police swarm the block. “It was like a movie scene,” one bystander wrote online. “People just ran in every direction.”
NYPD officers apprehended a 17-year-old male suspect only blocks from the shooting site. Police say they recovered a firearm believed to have been used in the attack.
As of Saturday afternoon, the teen had not been formally charged. Detectives from the Midtown South Precinct and the Manhattan District Attorney’s office are continuing to interview witnesses, review surveillance footage, and reconstruct the chain of events.
The NYPD has not released the suspect’s name because of his age, and officials have not commented on whether the dispute was gang-related, domestic, or otherwise.
Times Square, nicknamed “the Crossroads of the World,” is among the most heavily policed and surveilled locations in the city. Security cameras line nearly every building, and uniformed officers are visible at almost every corner.
Despite that, incidents do occasionally erupt in the area, often drawing heightened media attention due to the sheer number of tourists present.
This shooting stands out not only for its location but also because it interrupts a period of significant progress in reducing gun crime across the city. Police data show that as of August 3, New York had recorded its fewest number of shootings in decades, with a 23 percent drop compared with the same time last year.
City officials have touted these statistics as evidence that targeted policing, community intervention programs, and increased patrols in high-crime areas are making a difference. But Saturday morning’s violence underscores that even in areas with a heavy police presence, conflicts can still turn deadly.
By daylight, the area where the shooting occurred showed little trace of the overnight turmoil. Tourists once again filled the sidewalks, snapping selfies and crowding into souvenir shops. But for those who were there when the gunfire started, the memory was still fresh.
“I was inside a store when I heard the shots,” said Maria Hernandez, visiting from Texas. “At first, I thought it was fireworks, but then I saw people running and police shouting for us to get down. It was terrifying.”
Social media feeds were filled with firsthand accounts and grainy footage taken on smartphones. One post on X (formerly Twitter) read: “Three people have been shot in the heart of Times Square. Bodies on the ground, bullet holes in car windows. The chaos unfolded near a major tourist area. One suspect in custody.”
While police believe they have the shooter in custody, the investigation remains active. Detectives are working to determine whether anyone else was involved, how the suspect obtained the firearm, and what precisely triggered the initial argument.
The NYPD has urged anyone with additional video or information to contact its Crime Stoppers tip line.
City leaders are expected to address the incident in the coming days. Mayor Eric Adams has made combating gun violence a central priority, often highlighting the city’s declining shooting rates as a sign of progress.
