A search is underway for the suspect who shot and killed a woman at a Times Square clothing store late Thursday and fired at responding police as he fled the tourist-filled downtown area, police said.
The gunman, described as a 15- to 20-year-old Hispanic male wearing all white clothing, is wanted on suspicion of attempted murder of a police officer and was arrested on suspicion of shoplifting from JD Sports on West 42nd Street and Broadway at Broadway. He was part of a group of three. around 7:05 p.m., police said at a late night news conference.
During a disturbance in a Manhattan gun-free zone, a female security guard confronted the group and took stolen merchandise.
NYPD Sergeant John Chell said the gunman pulled out a gun and fired at the security guard. The bullet missed the security guard and struck a 37-year-old female tourist in the leg. She was taken to a nearby hospital.
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The gunman, described as a 15- to 20-year-old Hispanic male wearing all white clothing, is wanted on suspicion of attempted murder of a police officer and was arrested on suspicion of shoplifting from JD Sports on West 42nd Street and Broadway at Broadway. He was part of a group of three.Around 7:05 p.m. (New York City Police Department)
The gunman and his male accomplice, a 15-year-old Hispanic male wearing a blue jacket, fled the store and ran toward 47th Street, Chell said.
Two police officers who were patrolling the area then gave chase and arrested the suspect, who was wearing a blue jacket. The boy was later released without being charged.
However, the gunman continued running along 47th Street toward Sixth Avenue, with one of the officers following him.
The gunman fired twice at police, according to the NYPD. (Fox News Source)
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Chell said the gunman hid in a gap between two buildings on the block and then opened fire on police officers chasing him.
“My officer drew his weapon, but there were too many people around him to fire,” Chell said.
“As the man in white advanced into the cut, he fired more shots at the officer from the armpit. Again, the officer did not return fire.”
The gunman then stormed the subway station at 46th Street and Sixth Avenue, and police say they have footage of the gunman on the tracks. Later, he returns from the subway station, but he is still at large.
Images from the shooting scene in Times Square.
Chell said he had taken off his white jacket, but was wearing a white T-shirt and white sneakers.
“This is the last we have seen of him at this time. We have a number of resources searching the area and looking for that male,” Chell said.
“He fired at our officers not once, but twice, and once shot an innocent woman in the leg.”
In response to the Supreme Court’s Second Amendment ruling, New York state authorities have placed restrictions on where people can legally carry firearms in public. (Lokman Vural Elibol/Anadolu Agency, Getty Images)
The man wearing a blue jacket was taken back to the police station. It is unclear what happened to the third person in the shoplifting group.
The shooting occurred about two weeks after two police officers were attacked by an immigrant mob in Times Square. Pickpocketing and shoplifting have become major problems.
