Police are currently searching for a suspected gunman who allegedly shot a tourist and opened fire on an NYPD officer last night. The incident occurred after a security guard confronted three men who were attempting to rob a sporting goods store in Times Square. As the guard tried to intervene, one of the suspects fired a weapon, accidentally hitting an innocent woman nearby. Police have made one arrest so far, but the suspected gunman managed to escape after firing two more shots at the officers. Due to the high number of people in the area at the time, the officers did not return fire.
In the aftermath of the incident, Times Square remains partially roped off as law enforcement officials gather evidence. The NYPD has also released body camera footage showing a separate incident in which officers were attacked by a mob near Times Square. The footage reveals a chaotic scene in which the officers were attempting to disperse a crowd before the situation escalated into violence. The Manhattan District Attorney's office has confirmed that indictments have been secured against seven suspects involved in the attack. Notably, these indictments come two weeks after several of the suspects were arrested and subsequently released on bail. Presently, only one suspect is in police custody and is being held at Rikers Island.
