Three Injured in Times Square Shooting; 17-Year-Old Suspect in Custody After Late-Night Dispute
Three people were wounded in an early morning shooting in the heart of Times Square on Saturday, prompting panic in one of the nation’s busiest tourist destinations.
The incident unfolded around 1:20 a.m. near the intersection of 44th Street and 7th Avenue — steps from the Hard Rock Café and Carmine’s Italian Restaurant — in a designated gun-free zone. Witnesses described a sudden burst of gunfire that sent crowds scrambling for cover.
Police said the shooting began after a dispute between two individuals, though the cause of the argument remains unclear. A 17-year-old suspect was quickly detained, but formal charges had not been filed as of Saturday morning.
An 18-year-old woman and two men, aged 19 and 65, were struck by bullets. All three victims were rushed to Bellevue Hospital, where they remain in stable condition. Authorities said their injuries are not life-threatening.
One of the victims was seen lying on the pavement beside an SUV before being loaded into an ambulance. A visibly shaken woman exited the same vehicle but appeared uninjured. Police have not confirmed whether anyone in the SUV was among the shooting victims.
The NYPD has released few additional details, and the investigation is ongoing.
This shooting is the latest in a string of violent incidents involving teenagers in Times Square. In February 2024, a 15-year-old Venezuelan migrant was arrested after allegedly shooting a tourist in the leg at JD Sports and firing at an NYPD officer while fleeing. Just two months later, in April, a food cart vendor was shot four blocks away after an argument with a group of young people.
