tourist shot in ny

• Election 2024
• Entertainment
• Newsletters
• Photography
• Personal Finance
• AP Investigations
• AP Buyline Personal Finance
• AP Buyline Shopping
• Press Releases
• Israel-Hamas War
• Russia-Ukraine War
• Global elections
• Asia Pacific
• Latin America
• Middle East
• Election Results
• Delegate Tracker
• AP & Elections
• Auto Racing
• 2024 Paris Olympic Games
• Movie reviews
• Book reviews
• Personal finance
• Financial Markets
• Business Highlights
• Financial wellness
• Artificial Intelligence
• Social Media

Teen accused of shooting tourist in Times Square and firing at officer arrested after search

This surveillance image taken from a wanted poster provided by New York City Police Department Deputy Commissioner of Operations Kaz Daughtry on Friday, Feb. 9, 2024, shows a suspected shoplifter who shot a tourist in the leg inside a Times Square, New York, sporting goods store on Thursday, Feb. 8, 2024, who then fled into the street, stopping to shoot at a pursuing police officer. (New York City Police Department Deputy Commissioner of Operations Kaz Daughtry via AP)

• Copy Link copied

NEW YORK (AP) — A 15-year-old accused of shooting a Brazilian tourist in the leg in Times Square Thursday night, then firing at a police officer while fleeing, was arrested just outside of New York City on Friday, police officials said.

The teenager was taken into custody at a residential house that police believe may be linked to a family member in Yonkers nearly 24 hours after the shooting that began in a sporting goods store and spilled out onto the bustling streets of Midtown Manhattan.

At a press conference announcing the arrest Friday evening, New York City Police Commissioner Edward Caban said it was an “actual miracle” that no one was seriously injured in the shooting.

“In the middle of the busiest, most highly trafficked part of this city, a criminal with a firearm decided to pull the trigger,” Caban said.

Hours before, police identified the suspect as a resident of a migrant shelter in Manhattan who arrived in New York from Venezuela late last year. He is also considered a suspect in an armed robbery in the Bronx and a separate shooting in Times Square last month, police said.

Police said the shooter, dressed in all white, and two teenage classmates were shoplifting a jacket from the store shortly after 7 p.m. when they were confronted by a security guard who asked to see a receipt.

When the trio couldn’t produce one, the guard took back the merchandise. That’s when the teenager allegedly pulled out a .45 caliber handgun and fired at her. The bullet missed the worker but grazed a 38-year-old tourist in line to buy a pair of sneakers.

The shooter and one of the other teens with him then ran off into the busy tourist hub. Four blocks away on 47th Street — near a triangular Times Square pedestrian plaza where visitors line up to buy Broadway tickets and snap selfies with the area’s iconic billboards — two officers quickly spotted the pair and took the second person into custody.

The shooter fled toward 6th Avenue with one of the officers giving chase, at one point cutting between buildings. There, he turned and fired at the officer, police said.

“Our officer draws his weapon. He cannot fire,” NYPD Chief of Patrol John Chell said at a news conference Thursday evening. “Too many people around, there’s too many people ducking.”

The teen fired again from under his arm and continued to flee, running into a subway station. Surveillance video showed him going to the tracks and emerging back onto the street, Chell said.

It’s unclear if the teen has an attorney or someone who can speak on his behalf. Prosecutors said they’re usually not identified until the arraignment, which hasn’t happened yet.

Police said they spoke to hundreds of people and obtained strong surveillance photos of the alleged shooter leading up to his arrest Friday afternoon.

In an interview with NBC , the tourist, Tatiele Ribeiro Lemos, recalled the “scary moment” when she realized she had been shot.

“I started checking myself then looked at my leg and saw blood dripping down, but I was able to stay calm,” she said in Portuguese. “I believe this was just an unfortunate incident, it could have happened anywhere in the world.”

She received 13 stitches for the wound at a local hospital, according to the NBC report.

The shooting comes on the heels of another high-profile incident in Times Square involving a brawl between migrants and police officers .

Overall, crime rates have plummeted in New York City since a spike at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. The number of people shot in the city dropped 39% from 2022 to 2023.

Once one of the seediest places in New York, synonymous with pornographic theaters and sex work, Times Square experienced a revitalization in the 1990s that transformed it into one of the city’s most family-friendly destinations. On most evenings, it is packed with tourists and street performers, though it also still attracts pickpockets and hustlers who take advantage of out-of-towners.

Chell said Times Square remains safe to visitors.

“Take a look around you, thousands of people shopping and walking around,” he said. “We are still the safest city in the world.”

Associated Press writer Cedar Attanasio contributed to this report.

This story has been updated to correct the shooting victim’s age. She is 38, not 37, as authorities previously stated.

Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

UK Edition Change

• UK Politics
• News Videos
• Paris 2024 Olympics
• Rugby Union
• Sport Videos
• John Rentoul
• Mary Dejevsky
• Andrew Grice
• Sean O’Grady
• Photography
• Theatre & Dance
• Culture Videos
• Food & Drink
• Health & Families
• Royal Family
• Electric Vehicles
• Car Insurance deals
• Lifestyle Videos
• UK Hotel Reviews
• News & Advice
• Simon Calder
• Australia & New Zealand
• South America
• C. America & Caribbean
• Middle East
• Politics Explained
• News Analysis
• Today’s Edition
• Home & Garden
• Broadband deals
• Fashion & Beauty
• Travel & Outdoors
• Sports & Fitness
• Sustainable Living
• Climate Videos
• Solar Panels
• Behind The Headlines
• On The Ground
• Decomplicated
• You Ask The Questions
• Binge Watch
• Travel Smart
• Watch on your TV
• Crosswords & Puzzles
• Most Commented
• Newsletters
• Ask Me Anything
• Virtual Events
• Betting Sites
• Online Casinos
• Wine Offers

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged in Please refresh your browser to be logged in

Tourist shot while shopping in New York’s Times Square

New york city police are looking for a suspected shoplifter they say shot a tourist in the leg inside a times square sporting goods store and then fired at police as he ran away, article bookmarked.

Find your bookmarks in your Independent Premium section, under my profile

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails

Sign up to our free breaking news emails, thanks for signing up to the breaking news email.

A suspected shoplifter shot a tourist inside a Times Square store and then fled into the street, stopping to shoot at a pursuing police officer who could not return fire because of the evening crowds.

The 37-year-old woman was shot in the leg and is making a recovery in hospital.

It prompted a huge police presence and search that temporarily closed streets in the area, which draws thousands of people daily.

The shooter, described by police as a male between 15 and 20 years old, was still at large Friday.

“We are looking for one male. He is the shooter,” Chief of Patrol John Chell said at a news conference at the scene Thursday. “He shot at our cops not once but twice, and also shot an innocent female one time in the leg.”

The shooter, dressed all in white, pulled out a gun shortly after 7 pm and fired after being confronted by a security officer inside the store. After striking the tourist, the shooter and another male ran from the store and were quickly spotted by police officers, Chell said.

The second person was taken into custody while the shooter ran away, at one point cutting between buildings, where he turned and fired at a police officer who was chasing him.

“Our officer draws his weapon. He cannot fire,” Chell said. "Too many people around, there’s too many people ducking.”

The suspect fired again from under his arm and continued to flee, running into a subway station, where he was last seen. Video shows him going onto the tracks and coming back out of the subway, Chell said.

A reward of as much as $10,000 was offered for information, police said.

Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article

Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.

New to The Independent?

Or if you would prefer:

Want an ad-free experience?

Hi {{indy.fullName}}

• My Independent Premium
• Account details
• Help centre

NYPD hunts gunman who fired at cops after Times Square store shooting

Law enforcement sources said one person, a 15-year-old, was taken into custody for questioning and later released, by chris jose , tom shea and tom winter • published february 8, 2024 • updated on february 9, 2024 at 4:14 pm.

A tourist was shot in the leg after a suspect tried shoplifting at a Times Square store, according to a law enforcement source, leaving a large swath of midtown streets closed for hours Thursday amid an all-out manhunt for the gunman.

The incident began just after 7 p.m. at a store near Broadway and West 41st Street, a police official told NBC New York. At least two individuals went inside a store — reported to be JD Sports on Broadway, according to the FDNY — and went upstairs. They started shoving clothes into a shopping bag before they went back downstairs, police said.

A loss prevention officer went up to the pair and took the bag from them. As the guard was talking with him, one of the two, wearing all white, pulled out a gun and fired, according to police.

The bullets missed the security officer, but struck a Brazilian tourist in the leg above the knee, the source said. The victim, a 37-year-old woman shopping at the store, was taken to Bellevue Hospital, where she was expected to recover.

Get Tri-state area news and weather forecasts to your inbox. Sign up for NBC New York newsletters.

The duo took off, ending up at 47th Street and Seventh Avenue where two officers spotted them. One of the individuals was apprehended, NYPD Chief of Patrol John Chell said, while the other fled toward Sixth Avenue. The first individual was later released, law enforcement sources said Friday.

Midway down that block, the second suspect went into a cutout between two buildings, including the Fox Corporation headquarters, then turned and fired one shot at the officer giving chase. As he continued to run, he fired again at the officer from under his arm. The officer did not return fire either time.

Police said the suspected gunman dumped his white jacket, which could be seen lying on Sixth Avenue.

150 arrested at NYU protest; Columbia president urged to resign over campus ‘anarchy'

Judge weighs whether to hold Donald Trump in contempt of court

The suspect ran into the Rockefeller Center subway station at 46th Street and Sixth Avenue and went onto the tracks. He later left the station, but police did not know where he went after that.

"We are looking for one male, he is your shooter, he shot at our cops not once, but twice and also shot an innocent female one time in the leg," Chell said.

No injuries to the officers were reported.

A large swath of midtown streets were closed for hours amid the chaos, with police telling people to avoid the area between 47th and 51st streets along 6th Avenue for much of Thursday evening. Sixth Avenue did not reopen until after 10 p.m. The department also said a police presence could be expected in Times Square, and traffic delays were likely.

Due to a police investigation avoid the area surrounding 47th street to 51st Street on 6th Avenue and 42nd and Broadway in Manhattan. Expect a police presence in Times Square and residual traffic delays in the surrounding area. pic.twitter.com/t0OuGi1F7y — NYPD NEWS (@NYPDnews) February 9, 2024

An investigation is ongoing.

This article tagged under:

• International edition
• Australia edition
• Europe edition

Teen arrested in connection to Times Square shooting that injured tourist

Fifteen-year-old Venezuelan allegedly shot at security guard and wounded Brazilian tourist before firing at pursuing officer

A 15-year-old accused of shooting a Brazilian tourist in the leg in Times Square on Thursday night, then firing at a police officer while fleeing, was arrested just outside New York City on Friday, police officials said.

Police arrested the teenager at a house that investigators believe may be linked to a family member in Yonkers nearly 24 hours after the shooting. The violence began in a sporting goods store and spilled out on to the bustling streets of midtown Manhattan and one of the world’s most popular tourist locales.

At a press conference announcing the arrest on Friday evening, the New York City police commissioner, Edward Caban, said it was an “actual miracle” that no one was seriously injured in the shooting.

“In the middle of the busiest, most highly trafficked part of this city, a criminal with a firearm decided to pull the trigger,” Caban said.

Hours before, police had identified the suspect as a resident of a migrant shelter in Manhattan who had arrived in New York from Venezuela late last year. He is also considered a suspect in an armed robbery in the Bronx and a separate shooting in Times Square in January, police said.

Police said the shooter, dressed in all white, and two teenage classmates had been shoplifting a jacket from the store shortly after 7pm when they were confronted by a security guard who asked to see a receipt.

When the trio couldn’t produce one, the guard took back the merchandise. That’s when the teenager allegedly pulled out a .45-caliber handgun and fired at her. The bullet missed the worker but grazed a 38-year-old tourist in line to buy a pair of sneakers.

The shooter and one of the other teens with him then ran off into the busy tourist hub. Four blocks away on 47th Street – near a triangular Times Square pedestrian plaza where visitors line up to buy Broadway tickets and snap selfies with the area’s iconic billboards – two officers quickly spotted the pair and took the second person into custody.

The shooter fled toward Sixth Avenue with one of the officers giving chase, at one point cutting between buildings. There, he turned and fired at the officer, police said.

“Our officer draws his weapon. He cannot fire,” the New York City police chief of patrol, John Chell, said at a news conference on Thursday evening. “Too many people around – there’s too many people ducking.”

The teen fired again from under his arm and continued to flee, running into a subway station. Surveillance video showed him going to the tracks and emerging back on the street, Chell said.

It’s unclear whether the teen has an attorney or someone who can speak on his behalf. Prosecutors didn’t immediately respond to a request on Friday evening for attorney contact information.

On Friday morning, police apprehended a third suspect, who is 16. Investigators are still working to determine the role of the two people alleged to have entered the store with the shooter.

Police said they spoke to hundreds of people and obtained strong surveillance photos of the alleged shooter leading up to his arrest on Friday afternoon.

In an interview with NBC, the wounded tourist, Tatiele Ribeiro Lemos, recalled the “scary moment” when she realized she had been shot.

“I started checking myself then looked at my leg and saw blood dripping down, but I was able to stay calm,” she said in Portuguese.

Lemos described her shooting as “an unfortunate incident” that she believes could have happened anywhere, though the US’s level of gun violence is unusually elevated among high-income countries.

She received 13 stitches for the wound at a local hospital, according to the NBC report.

The shooting comes on the heels of another high-profile incident in Times Square involving a brawl between migrants and police officers.

Overall, crime rates have plummeted in New York City since a spike at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic. The number of people shot in the city dropped 39% from 2022 to 2023.

Once one of the seediest places in New York, synonymous with pornographic theaters and sex work, Times Square experienced a revitalization in the 1990s that transformed it into one of the city’s most family-friendly destinations. On most evenings, it is packed with tourists and street performers, though it also still attracts pickpockets and hustlers who take advantage of out-of-towners.

Chell said Times Square and New York City remain safe to visitors despite Thursday’s shooting.

“Take a look around you, thousands of people shopping and walking around,” he said.

Most viewed

• News 12 New York
• Download the News 12 App
• News 12 Deals
• Power & Politics
• The East End
• Bronx Events
• Environment
• Food & Fun
• Numbers & Links
• State of Our Schools
• Transportation
• Noticias Univision 41
• Ask the Borough President
• Bronx Birthday Smiles
• Celebrity Buzz
• Garden Guide
• Hometown Heroes in New York City

LIVE BLOG: News 12 weather updates

• New York City Honor Roll
• New York City Weather Photos
• On the Road
• Photo Galleries
• Scholar Athlete
• Stress Awareness Month
• Team 12 Investigates
• Yankees Opening Day

News 12 Originals

• Crime Files
• Kane in Your Corner
• On a Positive Note
• Road Trip: Close to Home
• Turn to Tara

Choose Your Region

• Connecticut
• Hudson Valley
• Long Island
• Westchester

Be the first to know

Topics you care about, straight to your inbox

Teen accused of shooting tourist in Times Square and firing at officer arrested after search

The tourist, a 37-year-old woman, was expected to recover after thursday's shooting in new york city. it prompted a huge police presence and search that temporarily closed streets in the area, which draws thousands of people daily..

Associated Press

Feb 9, 2024, 6:44 PM

Updated 73 days ago

More Stories

Police: $1,000 stolen from Bronx gas station at gunpoint; suspects at large

NYPD: Shooting suspect linked to death of 24-year-old still on the loose in Melrose

'I can sleep better.' Longwood resident thanks News 12 for report on Bruckner Expressway construction noise

Another spring-tastic day for NYC; tracking spotty showers into Wednesday

USDA warns of ground beef that may be contaminated with E.coli

More from News 12

Department of Justice opens investigation into officers parking on sidewalks in the Bronx

Police: Bronx commuter wanted for spraying MTA employee in the face with 'an unknown substance'

NYPD: 2 men wanted for violent late-night robbery in Morris Heights

Turn to Tara team looks at new domestic violence laws implemented across tri-state following NJ murder-suicide

NYPD: Suspect wanted for shooting 18-year-old in Belmont

NYPD Searching For Teen Boy Who Allegedly Shot Tourist In Times Square

NEW YORK (AP) — New York City police are searching for a 15-year-old who they say shot a Brazilian tourist in the leg inside a Times Square sporting goods store, then fired twice at a police officer pursuing him through busy midtown streets before ducking into a subway system.

Police identified the teen in the shooting Thursday evening as a resident of a migrant shelter in Manhattan who arrived in New York from Venezuela late last year. He is also considered a suspect in an armed robbery in the Bronx and a separate shooting in Times Square last month, police said.

“The priority right now for the city and its police department and our federal partners is to get this man off the streets,” NYPD Chief of Patrol John Chell said at a news conference Friday afternoon, describing the teenager as “extremely dangerous.”

Police said the shooter, dressed in all white, and two teenage classmates were shoplifting from the sporting goods story shortly after 7 p.m. when they were confronted by a security guard.

After the guard took back the property, the teenager pulled out a .45 caliber handgun and fired at her. The bullet missed the worker, but struck the 37-year-old tourist, who is expected to recover.

The shooter and one of the other teens with him then ran off into the bustling tourist hub. Four blocks away on 47th Street — near a triangular Times Square pedestrian plaza where visitors line up to buy Broadway tickets and snap selfies with the area’s iconic billboards — two officers quickly spotted the pair and took the second person into custody.

The shooter fled toward 6th Avenue with one of the officers giving chase, at one point cutting between buildings. There, he turned and fired at the officer, Chell said.

“Our officer draws his weapon. He cannot fire,” he said at a news conference Thursday evening. “Too many people around, there’s too many people ducking.”

The teen fired again from under his arm and continued to flee, running into a subway station, where he was last seen. Surveillance video showed him going to the tracks and emerging back onto the street, Chell said.

On Friday morning, police apprehended a third suspect, who is 16. Investigators are still working to determine the role of the two people alleged to have entered the store with the shooter.

Chell said the shooter discarded his jacket while fleeing. News footage showed police tape surrounding a white jacket and baseball cap lying in the street across from Radio City Music Hall.

The shooting prompted a huge police presence and search that temporarily closed streets in the area. A reward of as much as $10,000 is being offered for information about the shooter, police said.

The shooting comes on the heels of another high-profile incident in Times Square involving a brawl between migrants and police officers .

Overall, crime rates have plummeted in New York City since a spike at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. The number of people shot in the city dropped 39% from 2022 to 2023.

Once one of the seediest places in New York, synonymous with pornographic theaters and sex work, Times Square experienced a revitalization in the 1990s that transformed it into one of the city’s most family-friendly destinations. On most evenings, it is packed with tourists and street performers, though it also still attracts pickpockets and hustlers who take advantage of out-of-towners.

Chell said Times Square remained safe to visitors.

“Take a look around you, thousands of people shopping and walking around,” he said. “We are still the safest city in the world.”

Support HuffPost

Our 2024 coverage needs you, your loyalty means the world to us.

At HuffPost, we believe that everyone needs high-quality journalism, but we understand that not everyone can afford to pay for expensive news subscriptions. That is why we are committed to providing deeply reported, carefully fact-checked news that is freely accessible to everyone.

Whether you come to HuffPost for updates on the 2024 presidential race, hard-hitting investigations into critical issues facing our country today, or trending stories that make you laugh, we appreciate you. The truth is, news costs money to produce, and we are proud that we have never put our stories behind an expensive paywall.

Would you join us to help keep our stories free for all? Your contribution of as little as $2 will go a long way.

Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.

As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.

Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.

Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.

Dear HuffPost Reader

Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.

The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. Would you consider becoming a regular HuffPost contributor?

The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. If circumstances have changed since you last contributed, we hope you’ll consider contributing to HuffPost once more.

Already contributed? Log in to hide these messages.

Popular in the Community

From our partner, more in crime.

• Entertainment
• Newsletters

WEATHER ALERT

A rip current statement in effect for Coastal Broward and Coastal Miami Dade Regions

Teen accused of shooting tourist in times square and firing at officer arrested after search.

Associated Press

NEW YORK – A 15-year-old accused of shooting a Brazilian tourist in the leg in Times Square Thursday night, then firing at a police officer while fleeing, was arrested just outside of New York City on Friday, police officials said.

The teenager was taken into custody at a residential house that police believe may be linked to a family member in Yonkers nearly 24 hours after the shooting that began in a sporting goods store and spilled out onto the bustling streets of Midtown Manhattan.

Recommended Videos

At a press conference announcing the arrest Friday evening, New York City Police Commissioner Edward Caban said it was an “actual miracle” that no one was seriously injured in the shooting.

“In the middle of the busiest, most highly trafficked part of this city, a criminal with a firearm decided to pull the trigger,” Caban said.

Hours before, police identified the suspect as a resident of a migrant shelter in Manhattan who arrived in New York from Venezuela late last year. He is also considered a suspect in an armed robbery in the Bronx and a separate shooting in Times Square last month, police said.

Police said the shooter, dressed in all white, and two teenage classmates were shoplifting a jacket from the store shortly after 7 p.m. when they were confronted by a security guard who asked to see a receipt.

When the trio couldn't produce one, the guard took back the merchandise. That's when the teenager allegedly pulled out a .45 caliber handgun and fired at her. The bullet missed the worker but grazed a 38-year-old tourist in line to buy a pair of sneakers.

The shooter and one of the other teens with him then ran off into the busy tourist hub. Four blocks away on 47th Street — near a triangular Times Square pedestrian plaza where visitors line up to buy Broadway tickets and snap selfies with the area’s iconic billboards — two officers quickly spotted the pair and took the second person into custody.

The shooter fled toward 6th Avenue with one of the officers giving chase, at one point cutting between buildings. There, he turned and fired at the officer, police said.

“Our officer draws his weapon. He cannot fire,” NYPD Chief of Patrol John Chell said at a news conference Thursday evening. “Too many people around, there’s too many people ducking.”

The teen fired again from under his arm and continued to flee, running into a subway station. Surveillance video showed him going to the tracks and emerging back onto the street, Chell said.

It's unclear if the teen has an attorney or someone who can speak on his behalf. Prosecutors said they're usually not identified until the arraignment, which hasn't happened yet.

Police said they spoke to hundreds of people and obtained strong surveillance photos of the alleged shooter leading up to his arrest Friday afternoon.

In an interview with NBC , the tourist, Tatiele Ribeiro Lemos, recalled the “scary moment” when she realized she had been shot.

“I started checking myself then looked at my leg and saw blood dripping down, but I was able to stay calm,” she said in Portuguese. “I believe this was just an unfortunate incident, it could have happened anywhere in the world.”

She received 13 stitches for the wound at a local hospital, according to the NBC report.

The shooting comes on the heels of another high-profile incident in Times Square involving a brawl between migrants and police officers .

Overall, crime rates have plummeted in New York City since a spike at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. The number of people shot in the city dropped 39% from 2022 to 2023.

Once one of the seediest places in New York, synonymous with pornographic theaters and sex work, Times Square experienced a revitalization in the 1990s that transformed it into one of the city’s most family-friendly destinations. On most evenings, it is packed with tourists and street performers, though it also still attracts pickpockets and hustlers who take advantage of out-of-towners.

Chell said Times Square remains safe to visitors.

“Take a look around you, thousands of people shopping and walking around,” he said. “We are still the safest city in the world.”

Associated Press writer Cedar Attanasio contributed to this report.

This story has been updated to correct the shooting victim's age. She is 38, not 37, as authorities previously stated.

Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

Teen accused of shooting tourist in Times…

Share this:.

• Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on X (Opens in new window)

Daily e-Edition

Evening e-Edition

• Things to Do
• Top Workplaces
• Advertising
• Classifieds

Breaking News

Ct house fire displaces 26 people, kills multiple pets, uncategorized, subscriber only, teen accused of shooting tourist in times square and firing at officer arrested after search.

By JAKE OFFENHARTZ and MICHAEL R. SISAK (Associated Press)

NEW YORK (AP) — A 15-year-old accused of shooting a Brazilian tourist in the leg in Times Square Thursday night, then firing at a police officer while fleeing, was arrested just outside of New York City on Friday, police officials said.

The teenager was taken into custody at a residential house that police believe may be linked to a family member in Yonkers nearly 24 hours after the shooting that began in a sporting goods store and spilled out onto the bustling streets of Midtown Manhattan.

At a press conference announcing the arrest Friday evening, New York City Police Commissioner Edward Caban said it was an “actual miracle” that no one was seriously injured in the shooting.

“In the middle of the busiest, most highly trafficked part of this city, a criminal with a firearm decided to pull the trigger,” Caban said.

Hours before, police identified the suspect as a resident of a migrant shelter in Manhattan who arrived in New York from Venezuela late last year. He is also considered a suspect in an armed robbery in the Bronx and a separate shooting in Times Square last month, police said.

Police said the shooter, dressed in all white, and two teenage classmates were shoplifting a jacket from the store shortly after 7 p.m. when they were confronted by a security guard who asked to see a receipt.

When the trio couldn’t produce one, the guard took back the merchandise. That’s when the teenager allegedly pulled out a .45 caliber handgun and fired at her. The bullet missed the worker but grazed a 38-year-old tourist in line to buy a pair of sneakers.

The shooter and one of the other teens with him then ran off into the busy tourist hub. Four blocks away on 47th Street — near a triangular Times Square pedestrian plaza where visitors line up to buy Broadway tickets and snap selfies with the area’s iconic billboards — two officers quickly spotted the pair and took the second person into custody.

The shooter fled toward 6th Avenue with one of the officers giving chase, at one point cutting between buildings. There, he turned and fired at the officer, police said.

“Our officer draws his weapon. He cannot fire,” NYPD Chief of Patrol John Chell said at a news conference Thursday evening. “Too many people around, there’s too many people ducking.”

The teen fired again from under his arm and continued to flee, running into a subway station. Surveillance video showed him going to the tracks and emerging back onto the street, Chell said.

It’s unclear if the teen has an attorney or someone who can speak on his behalf. Prosecutors said they’re usually not identified until the arraignment, which hasn’t happened yet.

Police said they spoke to hundreds of people and obtained strong surveillance photos of the alleged shooter leading up to his arrest Friday afternoon.

In an interview with NBC, the tourist, Tatiele Ribeiro Lemos, recalled the “scary moment” when she realized she had been shot.

“I started checking myself then looked at my leg and saw blood dripping down, but I was able to stay calm,” she said in Portuguese. “I believe this was just an unfortunate incident, it could have happened anywhere in the world.”

She received 13 stitches for the wound at a local hospital, according to the NBC report.

The shooting comes on the heels of another high-profile incident in Times Square involving a brawl between migrants and police officers.

Overall, crime rates have plummeted in New York City since a spike at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. The number of people shot in the city dropped 39% from 2022 to 2023.

Once one of the seediest places in New York, synonymous with pornographic theaters and sex work, Times Square experienced a revitalization in the 1990s that transformed it into one of the city’s most family-friendly destinations. On most evenings, it is packed with tourists and street performers, though it also still attracts pickpockets and hustlers who take advantage of out-of-towners.

Chell said Times Square remains safe to visitors.

“Take a look around you, thousands of people shopping and walking around,” he said. “We are still the safest city in the world.”

Associated Press writer Cedar Attanasio contributed to this report.

This story has been updated to correct the shooting victim’s age. She is 38, not 37, as authorities previously stated.

More in Uncategorized

News | PHOTOS: Hundreds of Yale Students block intersection after 45 arrested

Connecticut News | Popular CT restaurant to hold ‘thank you’ party for customers as it closes for good

A CT woman used yoga to heal. Her studio ‘has created a sanctuary’ for others, clients say

Crush of lawsuits over voting in multiple states creates a shadow war for the 2024 election

Danish tourist shot in back in Manhattan

Tourist shot in manhattan.

A tourist from Denmark was shot on the Upper West Side of Manhattan on Sunday.

NEW YORK - A tourist visiting the city from Denmark was shot in Manhattan early on Sunday.

The NYPD says it happened around 3:30 a.m. on 103rd St. and West End Ave. on the Upper West Side .  The tourist was reportedly walking back to where he was staying after leaving a party.

The 31-year-old man was approached by someone asking for money.  The tourist refused and turned to walk away.

That's when the other man shot him in the back.  A witness said she saw the victim bleeding from the back after the incident.

Get breaking news alerts in the free FOX5NY News app!  |   Sign up for FOX 5 email newsletters

EMS took him to Mount Sinai Morningside in stable condition.

The New York City Police Department did not have a description of the suspect.

Watch CBS News

Man dies after setting himself on fire near Trump trial courthouse in NYC

By Graham Kates , Pat Milton , Jericka Duncan

Updated on: April 20, 2024 / 8:38 PM EDT / CBS News

A man who set himself on fire outside the New York City courthouse where former President Donald Trump's hush money trial is underway has died, police said. 

Witnesses said that they saw the man — identified by the New York Police Department as 37-year-old Max Azzarello — pour liquid over his head and set himself on fire at 1:39 p.m. local time on Friday. 

In a briefing immediately after the incident, the NYPD said Azzarello, a Florida resident who had arrived in New York City earlier in the week, walked into Collect Pond Park, opened a book bag, and scattered papers and pamphlets on the ground before setting himself ablaze. Police described the materials as "like a conspiracy-theory type of pamphlet." 

Azzarello then fell on a police barrier. Civilians and court officers used coats and extinguishers to try to put out the fire, the NYPD said, and the New York City Fire Department responded, finally extinguishing the fire. 

The FDNY said that Azzarello was transported to New York Presbyterian-Weill Cornell Medical Center, which has a burn center, in critical condition. 

The NYPD confirmed to CBS News overnight that Azzarello had died on Friday night. 

Four officers who responded to the fire suffered minor injuries.

Azzarello had posted a statement on social media, officials said. Although the incident took place close to the court where Trump's trial is taking place, officials said Azzarello did not appear to be targeting any particular person or group and added that he seemed to be a conspiracy theorist.

One witness described pamphlets that Azzarello threw, apparently while making allegations about New York University.

 "I heard this clattering, and it was those papers that he had flung up in the air," the witness said. "That caught our attention and — caught my attention, anyway ... then he pulled out a can and he poured it over himself. And at that point, I thought, 'Oh ... this is gonna be awful." 

"It happened so fast — what do you do?" another witness said. 

Graham Kates is an investigative reporter covering criminal justice, privacy issues and information security for CBS News Digital. Contact Graham at [email protected] or [email protected]

More from CBS News

Man dies after getting shot at Miami apartment complex, investigation underway

14 people, including child and several pets, displaced following Miami apartment complex fire

Fire erupts in SW Miami-Dade home, one dead

Former state senator shares possible solutions to Florida's housing affordability crisis

• Share full article

Advertisement

Supported by

2 Police Officers Are Killed in Shootout Near Syracuse, New York

A suspect fired at the officers on Sunday evening as they investigated a stolen vehicle in the upstate town of Salina, the authorities said. The suspect died in the shootout.

By Jin Yu Young and Michael Wilson

Two police officers, who had been following up on a traffic violation, were killed in a shooting ambush on Sunday evening outside a house in an upstate New York town near Syracuse, the authorities said.

Officers from the Syracuse Police Department attempted to stop a vehicle around 7 p.m. on Sunday. The driver fled, but the officers used the vehicle’s license plate to track it to a house in Liverpool, a village in the suburban town of Salina. When the officers learned that the vehicle’s driver might be armed, they requested assistance, and deputies from Onondaga County arrived, Chief Joseph L. Cecile of the Syracuse Police Department told reporters at a news conference early Monday morning.

The officers found the parked vehicle, and saw ammunition inside, according to the Onondaga County district attorney, William J. Fitzpatrick. A deputy approached the house from the rear, while two police officers approached from the front, Mr. Fitzpatrick said. Officers then “heard what sounded like someone manipulating a firearm from inside the residence” before shots rang out, Chief Cecile said.

The deputy at the back of the property, Lt. Michael Hoosock, 37, was shot, as was one of the Syracuse officers in the front, Police Officer Michael Jensen, 29. Officers returned fire, striking the shooter, identified as Christopher Murphy, 33.

Lieutenant Hoosock, Officer Jensen and Mr. Murphy were pronounced dead at a nearby hospital.

Mr. Murphy had no criminal history, besides an arrest 10 years ago on a drunken-driving charge. On Sunday, he was in the house with a friend, using cocaine, when the officers arrived, Mr. Fitzpatrick said. Mr. Murphy armed himself with some sort of assault rifle and urged his friend to leave, according to what the friend later told the police, Mr. Fitzpatrick said.

The moments leading up to the killings appeared routine.

“We’re chasing cars every day,” said Tobias Shelley, the Onondaga County sheriff, on Sunday night.

“It’s a dark day for Syracuse,” the city’s mayor, Ben Walsh, said at the news conference. “This is our worst nightmare come true.”

Because of an editing error, an earlier version of this article misidentified the law enforcement officers who were killed in a shooting in Salina, N.Y., on Sunday night. It was an officer from the Syracuse Police Department and an Onondaga County deputy, not two officers from the Syracuse Police Department.

How we handle corrections

Jin Yu Young reports on South Korea, the Asia Pacific region and global breaking news from Seoul. More about Jin Yu Young

Michael Wilson , who covers New York City, has been a Times reporter for more than two decades. More about Michael Wilson

Police officer, sheriff's deputy and shooter killed in exchange of gunfire in upstate NY, police say

Authorities say two law enforcement officers were fatally shot while looking for a driver who fled a traffic stop in upstate New York

LIVERPOOL, N.Y. -- Two law enforcement officers were fatally shot while looking for a driver who fled a traffic stop in upstate New York, authorities said Monday. The shooter was also killed in an exchange of gunfire with police.

The shootout took place shortly after 8 p.m. Sunday outside a house in the residential neighborhood of Liverpool, about 6 miles (10 kilometers) north of Syracuse, claiming the lives of Onondaga County Sheriff's Office Lt. Michael Hoosock and Syracuse police officer Michael Jensen, authorities said. The slain shooter was identified by the local district attorney as Christopher Murphy, 33.

Jensen had attempted earlier to pull over a car, but the driver refused to stop and sped off, according to Onondaga County District Attorney William Fitzpatrick.

The police officers tracked the license plate to the address in nearby Liverpool, requesting assistance from the sheriff’s office.

Officers were inspecting the vehicle and moving around the house they heard what sounded like “a gun being manipulated,” so they took cover, Syracuse Police Chief Joseph Cecile said during a news conference on Monday afternoon.

Inside the house, Murphy had told a friend police were not going to arrest him and that the friend needed to leave. The friend ran from the house and was apprehended, authorities said.

Hoosock, a 17-year veteran of the force with a wife and three young children, was looking for cover behind a maple tree in an adjacent yard when he was ambushed. The suspect fired from a back deck, Sheriff Toby Shelley said at the Monday briefing.

“We believe the first officer shot is a sheriff’s deputy in the rear of the house. And I don’t believe he knew what was coming,” Fitzpatrick said.

Jensen, on the force for less than three years, was struck after the shooter went to to the front of the house and fired on Syracuse police officers with an AR-15-style rifle. Jensen was among the officers who returned fire, police said.

Fitzpatrick said the officer was struck near the armpit in an area not protected by his vest.

The Syracuse officer, sheriff’s deputy and the shooter were brought to Upstate University Hospital in Syracuse. All three were pronounced dead at the hospital, Cecile said.

“We lost two heroes last night,” Cecile said.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said she was “horrified by the senseless killing” of the two officers.

“My prayers are with their families, loved ones, and their colleagues,” the governor posted on X. “New York will never forget their heroism and service.”

The officers were the first law enforcement officers to be killed in the line of duty in Onondaga County since Officer Wallie Howard Jr. was shot to death during an undercover drug operation in October 1990, officials said.

Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh said, "This is a dark day for Syracuse. This is our worst nightmare come true.”

Murphy had no criminal record beyond being charged with driving while intoxicated a decade ago, Fitzpatrick said.

The investigation was continuing.

“There’s nothing routine out there in this day and age at all for law enforcement,” Cecile said.

An earlier version of this report had incorrect spelling of Onondaga County Sheriff Toby Shelley's last name.

Top Stories

Trump faces potential contempt of court if judge determines he violated gag order

• 3 hours ago

Celebrity handbag designer sentenced to 18 months in prison for smuggling crocodile handbags

• Apr 22, 11:45 AM

Judge declares mistrial in case of Arizona rancher accused of killing unarmed migrant

• Apr 22, 8:03 PM

Trump hush money trial updates: Tense hearing on contempt ends without ruling

• 7 minutes ago

Brittney Griner opens up about Russian detention in exclusive '20/20' special

Abc news live.

24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events

New York City police fatally shoot knife-wielding man arguing with woman on street corner

NEW YORK -- New York City police fatally shot a 65-year-old man who officers said was threatening a woman with a knife early Saturday morning. 

Two officers were patrolling a neighborhood in Corona, Queens, where they saw the man arguing and holding a knife to the woman across the street, according to NYPD. 

The officers ordered the man to drop the knife, but he did not, NYPD Chief of Detectives Jeffrey Maddrey said. 

"The male doesn't listen, the officers used a taser, the taser does not work. The officer gives further commands and then discharged their weapons, which stops the male," said Maddrey. 

The man was rushed to Elmhurst Hospital, where detectives said he died. 

Officers on patrol due to "uptick" in crime 

The shooting happened at around 4 a.m. by the corner of Roosevelt Avenue and 103rd Street, which police kept closed for hours to investigate. 

Maddrey said officers were patrolling the area due to "heavy nightlife" and an uptick in crime on Roosevelt Avenue 

"We have seen some upticks in crime. So we have a contingent of officers who work out here at night to keep people safe," said Maddrey. 

Police believe the argument may have been domestic in nature, but they were still looking into the relationship between the man and woman.

Man involved in fatal shootout with officers in Syracuse identified

Christopher Murphy , 33, of Salina, was confirmed as the shooter in a gunfight that left two police officers and Murphy dead, according to Onondaga County District Attorney William Fitzpatrick.

Late Sunday, two Syracuse police officers attempted to pull over a suspicious vehicle near the intersection of Emerson Avenue and Hamilton Street. The driver sped off but the officers got the license plate, which led them to a residence on Darien Drive in Salina.

From there, a gunfight ensued, with officers on scene and the suspect exchanging multiple shots. A Syracuse Police officer, an Onondaga County Sheriff's deputy and Murphy were all hit and all three died of their injuries.

The names of the two officers have not been released.

Murphy lived at the address on Darien Drive, where the shooting happened, according to county voting records.

Recommended

Breaking news, syracuse cop and onondaga sheriff’s deputy shot and killed in upstate ny suburb.

• View Author Archive
• Email the Author
• Follow on Twitter
• Get author RSS feed

Contact The Author

Thanks for contacting us. We've received your submission.

Thanks for contacting us. We've received your submission.

A Syracuse cop and a sheriff’s deputy were shot and killed in an upstate New York community Sunday night in an exchange of gunfire in which the suspect was also killed, police said.

The deadly scene played out in front of a house in the Syracuse suburb of Salina before 9 p.m. as officers were investigating a suspicious car, law enforcement officials said.

An officer with the Syracuse Police Department and a deputy with the Onondaga County Sheriff’s Office were hit by gunfire, a Syracuse police spokesperson told The Post earlier Sunday night.

“We lost two heroes tonight,” said Syracuse Police Chief Joseph Cecile during a news conference  streamed by WYSR early Monday.  “Two men who answered the call to duty to put on the badge to protect the community, protect and serve. We lost two of them tonight.”

The slain Syracuse cop and his partner initially made a traffic stop of a suspicious car in the city before it quickly fled, Cecile said.

But the officers were able to get the license plate number and tracked the car to a home in the community of Liverpool, which is in Salina.

Law enforcement from the city and Onondaga County arrived and saw what looked to be guns inside the car and heard noises that sounded like a person was “manipulating a firearm” inside the home, Cecile said.

“Moments later there was an exchange of gunfire between at least one suspect and the officers and the deputies,” he said.

The officer and deputy who were shot were rushed to the hospital, where they were both pronounced dead.

The suspect was also pronounced dead at the hospital.

There is no active threat to the community, officials said. 

Onondaga County Sheriff Toby Shelley said it was a “sad day for law enforcement” and Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh called it a “dark day for Syracuse” during the press briefing. 

“This is our worst nightmare come true,” Walsh said. “And our thoughts right now are with the families of those two officers — those two heroes.”

Start your day with all you need to know

Morning Report delivers the latest news, videos, photos and more.

Thanks for signing up!

Please provide a valid email address.

By clicking above you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy .

Never miss a story.

The Syracuse police officer had about three years on the job and was “very active, very proactive,” Cecile said, while Shelley called the deputy a “seasoned” law enforcement officer who was “very well-liked in his community.”

“Just a great guy,” he added.

Hundreds of officers watched and saluted as the bodies of the slain officer and deputy were driven away from Upstate Medical University Hospital,  according to footage posted on social media.

At an  earlier press conference , Shelley said law enforcement officers were investigating a stolen car leading up to the shooting. 

The Syracuse cops called in backup from the sheriff’s office after learning the driver of the vehicle might be armed. 

Shelley said at the time it was unclear how many suspects were tied to the shooting. 

Law enforcement flooded the area following the shooting, according to images  from WHEC.

A neighbor, Brian Fagan,  told Syracuse.com  he heard a car zoom by as multiple deputy police cruisers chased after it. He then heard the cars come to a halt and multiple shots fired.

Mousa Alzokar, who lives across from the crime scene with his five children, told the outlet he also heard gunshots before two officers with long guns entered his house through the backdoor without knocking and went up to the second floor of his house to position themselves near a window.

Neither officer in his home fired a shot during the incident, Alzokar said.

At one point, he saw an officer carried into a sheriff’s vehicle that drove off.

The last Syracuse cop to die on the job was Willie Howard Jr. in 1990, and the last Onodaga sheriff’s deputy who was killed in the line of duty was Glenn Searles in 2003, when he was hit by a car, Syracuse.com reported. 

Share this article:

Advertisement