3 teens wounded after gunman opens fire overnight in Times Square
NEW YORK - A popular New York tourist attraction became a crime scene Monday night - there was a shooting in Times Square.
Police said they are searching for the suspected gunman, who is believed to be just a teenager and is still on the run.
Three other teens are recovering in area hospitals.
The Crossroads of the World turned into a crime scene late Monday night, just before midnight, after police said a group of teenagers were involved in a shooting.
The incident sparked panic among some tourists.
"Obviously, it's scary to think about that," tourist Dan Boldin said. "In Times Square - it's a little bit nuts."
Detectives said a 15-year-old and 16-year-old got into an argument with another teenager on 7th Avenue between 41st-42nd Streets. That teen the shot the other two in their legs, police said. Both needed to be transported to Bellevue Hospital, where they're in stable condition.
Soon after, detectives said a third teenager, 17, walked into Harlem Hospital with a graze wound to the shoulder. Police said he, too, is connected to this shooting.
"It's getting younger and younger," one Harlem resident said. "If you have children, it's very scary."
Times Square is supposed to be a gun-free zone. Mayor Eric Adams signed legislation making it official last year, to protect New Yorkers and tourists. It prohibits the concealed carrying of firearms within the sensitive zone.
Many say it's not the statistics they're fearful of, but how young those involved are, and how they were able to get a gun.
"People are always going to find them if they want to find them," Jack Pedini said. "Something has to change."
"I feel like, as parents, we have a great responsibility to walk children in the right way, and it makes we wonder, what's going on at home? How can we help families at home?" Karill Sabery said.
Police sources tell CBS New York that this was a planned meetup among the teenagers, they planned on meeting here to discuss a problem they were having to try and resolve it, but clearly, that didn't happen.
Police still don't know what the teens were arguing about in the first place.
Meanwhile, the gunman is still on the run. Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477), or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). You can also submit a tip via their website or via DM on Twitter, @NYPDTips. All calls are kept confidential.
