Innocent bystanders shot during argument in Times Square: police
Three innocent bystanders — including a 4-year-old girl who was toy shopping with her family — were shot Saturday in Times Square when a man arguing with three other people wildly fired into the evening crowd, according to police and sources.
The bullets flew just before at 4:55 p.m. outside of 1515 Broadway, along West 44th Street, when the dispute turned the Crossroads of the World into a shooting gallery and shocked even hardened members of New York’s Finest.
“How many kids have to be shot before we take this seriously, we just had a one-year-old homicide cleared this week,” NYPD Commissioner Dermot Shea said. “How many more kids do we need to be shot before we realize that bad policies have consequences.”
In the shooting, a 23-year-old woman was struck in the right thigh, a 43-year-old woman was hit in the left foot and a 4-year-old girl was hit in the left leg, police said.
The child was identified as Skye Martinez, of Brooklyn, sources said. She was in Times Square to buy toys, according to Shea.
The adult victims are Wendy Magrinat from Rhode Island, who was in the city to see the Statue of Liberty, and Marcela Aldana of New Jersey, sources said.
People started running away from the scene as soon as shots rang out, with parents grabbing children by the hands and shouting as they fled the area, livestream footage of Times Square shows.
She then motioned to cops with a thumbs up. Khadim said.
Within seconds, the area was nearly empty, as emergency vehicles rushed to help victims.
Police were in the area and rendered aid immediately. The victims were rushed to Bellevue Hospital and are expected to survive, the sources said.
The city’s top cop blamed the violence on the proliferation of illegal guns in the boroughs.
“We need action and we need policies regarding laws to have consequences for that policy. We’ve gone over it many times I think you’re seeing it play out and it’s time,” he said at a press conference.
The shooter may have fled on public transit, and was captured on surveillance video, which was released by police.
A grainy image released by officials shows a slim black man wearing black pants, a black long sleeved shirt, white sneakers and a hat.
Streets around Times Square were closed to traffic amid the chaotic aftermath.
Sakho Khadim described hearing two shots — and seeing a toddler covered in blood.
“The cops grabbed the baby and put him in the ambulance,” Khadim said. “The (woman) was crying. She said ‘I’m good.’ “
She then motioned to cops with a thumbs up, Khadim said.
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