A shooter opened fired in New York City, sparking fear on the streets of one of the world’s most popular vacation destinations.
New York City endured a terrifying moment in time as they heard a firearm discharge in its center.
Videos of the moment circulated online, sparking conversations online about gun crime, and the shooter’s motives.
What happened in Times Square
The incident occurred near the intersection of 44th Street and 7th Avenue, with New York Police Department (NYPD) confirming the shots were fired after a dispute broke out between two people.
Videos show crowds of tourists fleeing from outside the Hard Rock Cafe, on 7th Avenue, and soon after, news broke that people had been struck by the bullets.
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Taking to Twitter, one user commented on the video: "Three people have been shot in the heart of Times Square. Bodies are on the ground, bullet holes pierce car windows. The chaos unfolded near a major tourist area. One suspect is in custody."
The witness claimed they were just 'literally 2 cars in front of the car that got shot up’, adding: "That suv that was shot up had a 3 year old kid in it."
NYC had just labeled Times Square a 'gun-free zone', with signs posted to remind all to keep guns out of the area just days prior to the shooting.
How police responded
In a video posted online, it shows police descending on the scene as they quickly arrested the suspect and recovered a firearm.
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A police spokesperson told The Independent: "He has been taken into custody and a firearm was also recovered. He has not been charged yet.”
It comes just days after New York’s police commissioner announced that the city had seen the fewest shooting incidents and victims this year, with 412 shooting incidents and 489 shooting victims occurring in the last seven months.
Footage online showed one person on a stretcher being wheeled into an ambulance, while policemen moved people away from the scene.
What we know about the suspect
Police told the outlet they were questioning one person who is being held in custody, however, no charges have been handed to him.
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The shooting occurred during a verbal dispute between the shooter and one of the victims, as per the police.
“The perpetrator was engaged in a verbal dispute prior to the shooting with one of the victims,” said the statement.
The shooting took place at around 1.20am, an NYPD spokesperson said.
Injuries and victims
As a result of the shooting, three people were injured.
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One was an 18-year-old woman and then there were two men, aged 19 and 65.
The force reported that a bullet grazed the woman's neck, and both of the two men sustained gunshot wounds to the legs.
The 19-year-old was shot in his right foot, and the other was shot in the left leg, the spokesperson said to the outlet.
“All were taken to Bellevue hospital and are in stable condition,” the force added.
Britt Jones