Three people were shot just steps from Times Square early Saturday morning in a violent incident that shook one of New York City’s busiest areas.
The NYPD said the gunfire broke out at West 44th Street and 7th Avenue, right near the heart of Manhattan’s tourist zone.
An 18-year-old woman, a 19-year-old man, and a 65-year-old man were all hit by bullets. All three were rushed to Bellevue Hospital and are in stable condition, according to police.
A 17-year-old suspect was taken into custody at the scene. Police say the shooting started after a “verbal dispute between two people escalated.” The teen has not been named because of his age.
Chaos unfolded as crowds scattered. Videos posted online show tourists and bystanders running while officers secured the area. One person is seen lying on the ground, later loaded onto a stretcher as police shouted at the crowd to back up. The video has not been independently verified.
New York-based journalist Kyle Mazza reported on X: “Three people were shot in Times Square and tourists scattered the area following the gunfire in Manhattan, New York, on August 9, 2025. NYPD officers converged on the area and collected evidence. Detectives arrived on scene and police implemented several road closures in the area.”
He added: “The shooting took place Saturday morning at approximately 1:20 AM. An 18-year-old female, 19-year-old male and a 65-year-old male were shot and the victims were transported by ems to a local area hospital. A suspect was placed into custody. The area has since been reopened.”
This is the second high-profile shooting in Midtown in less than two weeks. On July 28, four people were killed when Shane Devon Tamura of Nevada opened fire in an office building at 345 Park Avenue. Among the dead was 36-year-old NYPD officer Didarul Islam.
Tamura was reportedly trying to reach the NFL headquarters, located in the building, but entered the wrong floor. “Spraying it with gunfire,” Tamura killed three people in the lobby and was later found dead with a woman on the 33rd floor, police said.
Saturday’s shooting adds to growing concerns about public safety in New York’s most trafficked areas. The NYPD says the investigation is ongoing and charges are expected.
