Times Square Shooting: Intense Manhunt Continues; Sources Say Shooter Known To Police For Illegal Vending In Area
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- An intense manhunt continued Sunday following a shooting in Times Square on Saturday.
Three people were hit, including a 4-year-old girl.
As CBS2's Christina Fan reported, it was mayhem at one of the most recognizable places in the world.
The incident happened in front of the Minskoff Theatre at a time when the city is trying to convince tourists it is safe to come back. Police said two to four men got into a dispute of some kind, and at least one of them opened fire, hitting three innocent bystanders.
Police have released images of that person of interest.
Sources told CBS2's Kiran Dhillon the shooter is known to the NYPD for illegal vending in the Times Square area. Sources added the shooter's brother was the intended target. CBS2's Hazel Sanchez reported the NYPD spoke to the brother, but it's unclear what the beef was between them.
NYPD detectives and a K9 unit sifted through trash cans overnight, recovering clothing that match those worn by the person of interest.
Dhillon spoke to the family of the 4-year-old girl who was wounded and remains at Bellevue Hospital. Her parents said they're devastated and still processing the shooting, though they are grateful the young girl is going to make it.
Meanwhile, one of the other victims spoke to CBS2.
"It was like one of the worst experiences of my life. And I was scared for my life," Wendy Magrinat said.
That fear debilitating for the 23-year-old Magrinat.
"I'm like, 'I have been hit. Just call them. Call 911 please. Just someone ...' I started screaming, 'I'm going to die. I'm bleeding a lot,'" Magrinat said.
She was visiting Times Square from Rhode Island with her family, including her husband and young daughter, for Mother's Day.
She said she was near the corner of 44th Street and Seventh Avenue at around 5 p.m. when she noticed several men arguing.
As things escalated, the family tried to get out of the way, but it was too late.
Police said at least one man opened fire and Magrinat suffered a gunshot wound to the thigh.
"I just ... I covered my wound because I knew it was a hole and a lot of blood was gonna start coming out. I covered up and I wanted to get my daughter to safety and my family. So I just told them, 'They're shooting, run. You have to run,'" Magrinat said.
Sources have identified the other victim as 43-year-old Marcela Aldana from New Jersey, who was shot in the foot.
The 4-year-old from Brooklyn was with her family buying toys when she was shot in the leg.
Video from the scene shows an NYPD officer running through the crowd attempting to get the child to safety.
"How many more kids do we need to be shot before we realize that bad policies have consequences?" Police Commissioner Dermot Shea said.
Magrinat said she and the young girl shared an ambulance to the hospital.
"She was way better than me. She was scared, you know, but she wasn't crying. She was so brave," Magrinat said.
Magrinat, who returned to Rhode Island, said she is in terrible pain.
"I still have the bullet in my leg. It's amazing that it didn't hit any artery. It's just there and they said it would be just worse for me to get surgery," she said. "It's hard, but I'm thankful to be alive."
Anyone with any information 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.
CBS2's Kiran Dhillon and Christina Fan contributed to this report.
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