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Update: 4-Year-Old Girl Among Three People Shot In Broad Daylight In Times Square
By
David Cruz
,
Sophia Chang
and
Jen Chung
Published May 8, 2021
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Jen Chung / Gothamist
By
David Cruz
,
Sophia Chang
and
Jen Chung
Published May 8, 2021
Share
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Three people, including a four-year-old girl from Brooklyn, were shot in broad daylight in Times Square Saturday, according to police.
At a news briefing hours after the shooting, Police Commissioner Dermot Shea said that the incident unfolded just before 5 p.m. at the corner of 45th Street and Seventh Avenue just near the Minskoff Theatre, home to the Broadway musical The Lion King. An argument erupted between at least two to four people, Shea said, in which one of the persons pulled out at firearm and began shooting. The four-year-old girl was buying toys with her family when she was hit in the thigh. She was rushed to Bellevue Hospital and underwent surgery.
A 23-year-old woman visiting from Rhode Island and a 43-year-old woman were also hit. The 23-year-old woman was initially supposed to visit the Statue of Liberty, but couldn't get tickets, prompting her to come to Times Square, Shea said.
The three victims did not know each other and appeared to all be innocent bystanders, according to Shea.
Officers are now on the hunt for the shooter. The incident comes as the city continues to slowly reopen as more and more people continue to get vaccinated during the pandemic. It also comes as the number of shooting incidents have increased 166%, with 149 reported shooting incidents this April compared to 56 the same month a year ago.
"We have been taking guns off the street in New York City at an alarming rate over the past two years, and it's time now we have consequences," Shea said.
Shea blamed the incident on several laws in the books. While Shea did not specify what laws he was referring to, he has been outspoken over the state's bail reform laws.
"How many kids have to be shot before we take this seriously," Shea said.
Mayor Bill de Blasio, who was not at the briefing, tweeted that the victims "are in stable condition."
During the news conference, the NYPD released an image taken from surveillance cameras of a suspect wanted in connection to the shooting.
Social media erupted shortly after the shooting, with alerts coming from the NYPD and the Office of Emergency Management warning pedestrians and drivers to stay off the street.
FDNY said the victims were transported to Bellevue Hospital.
A video posted on the Citizen App shows an intense scene at Times Square.
Woman, Child Shot in Times Square @CitizenApp
W 45th St & Broadway 4:57:26 PM EDT
Tagged
shooting
Times Square
David Cruz
David is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
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Sophia Chang
Sophia Chang is a former WNYC and Gothamist reporter.
Read more
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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