A 17-year-old boy has been arrested after a Times Square shooting injured three people in New York City’s busiest tourist area.
Times Square shooting sparks fear amid rising violent incidents
The gunfire broke out just after 01:20 EST (07:20 SAST) on Saturday at West 44th Street and Seventh Avenue, a location known worldwide for its bright billboards and constant crowds.
According to BBC News, the teenager opened fire during a fight outside a Raising Cane’s chicken restaurant. Police have not released his name, but confirmed he is facing criminal charges.
The New York Police Department said a 19-year-old man was shot in the foot, a 65-year-old man was hit in the left leg, and an 18-year-old woman was grazed in the neck.
All three were taken to hospital and are in a stable condition, meaning they are not in immediate danger.
Officers recovered a handgun at the scene, and police believe the shooting was linked to a personal dispute rather than a random attack.
Security concerns in a busy tourist hotspot
Times Square is one of the busiest pedestrian areas in the world, attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors each day. A shooting in such a crowded place can cause chaos, with people running in fear and police rushing to secure the area.
Last month, another violent incident shocked New York when a gunman attacked an office building in Midtown Manhattan, killing four workers. Police said the man was targeting the National Football League’s (NFL) offices but entered the wrong area of the building.
At the time, authorities confirmed that Shane Tamura believed he had chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a brain condition linked to repeated head injuries.
Tamura, 27, drove across the country from Las Vegas and entered the Park Avenue skyscraper around 06:30 SAST (00:30 EST) on Tuesday, 29 July 2025. He shot four people before killing himself.
The Times Square shooting comes three months before the New York mayoral election and as US President Donald Trump increases federal law enforcement measures.
On Friday, Trump sent federal agents into Washington DC to address crimes involving young people.
He described crime levels as “totally out of control.”
Despite these high-profile incidents, police data shows that New York City has recorded historically low levels of gun violence in recent months.