A chaotic scene unfolded in the heart of Times Square on Thursday afternoon when gunshots rang out not once but twice within a tense, fast-moving span of minutes, sending tourists and shoppers scrambling for cover.
The trouble began just after 3:30 p.m. on Broadway near West 44th and 45th streets, when a fight involving a large group of people escalated and a 26-year-old man was slashed in the neck, according to police. Moments later, a 17-year-old boy allegedly pulled out a gun and fired at the same crowd. He was taken into custody shortly after, though formal charges had not been filed as of Thursday evening.
Before officers could fully secure the area, a second round of gunfire broke out blocks away at West 45th Street and Eighth Avenue, deepening the panic already gripping the tourist-heavy district.
Remarkably, no one was hit by bullets in either shooting. The slashing victim was rushed to a hospital and is expected to recover.
Inside a nearby fast-food restaurant, the sound of gunfire sent customers diving for safety. One witness described people rushing through the doors in a panic as glass appeared to shatter around them. Another recalled children dropping to the floor as the noise echoed close by, while a group of bystanders said they ducked into a nearby store to wait it out.
A street vendor working the area at the time said he froze for a moment before realizing what was happening, calling the location a major draw for tourists and adding to the unease many felt afterward.
Dozens of police officers swarmed the scene, and investigators were spotted examining a damaged vehicle whose owner reported it had been struck during the chaos. A weapon was recovered nearby.
Authorities say the investigation remains active, and they are seeking to question additional people connected to the incident.
