A 17-year-old opened fire in Times Square, wounding
three and reigniting the national gun control discussion."
New York, USA — A 17-year-old armed with a handgun
opened fire early Saturday morning in Times Square, injuring three people and
igniting fresh debate over gun control in the United States. The shooting,
which took place at around 1:20 a.m. on August 9, 2025, followed an apparent
dispute, according to police.
The bustling neon heart of Manhattan turned into a
scene of chaos in the early hours of Saturday after gunshots rang out near the
intersection of Broadway and Seventh Avenue.
Police said the suspect, a 17-year-old male whose
identity has not yet been released, opened fire after what witnesses described
as a heated argument. Within seconds, three people were injured and panic swept
through one of the world’s most visited tourist spots.
According to the NYPD, an 18-year-old woman
suffered a neck graze, while a 19-year-old man and a 65-year-old man sustained
gunshot wounds to their lower limbs. All three victims were taken to Bellevue
Hospital, where they were listed in stable condition.
“The suspect was quickly taken into custody and a
firearm was recovered at the scene,” an NYPD spokesperson told reporters.
Video clips shared on social media appear to show
tourists and late-night visitors running for cover as police vehicles swarmed
the area. AFP has not yet verified the authenticity of these recordings.
Officers cordoned off several blocks surrounding
Times Square, closing parts of Broadway and Seventh Avenue for more than two
hours. More than a dozen patrol cars and emergency units responded to secure
the scene.
The shooter has not yet been formally charged,
pending further investigation by Manhattan prosecutors. Authorities have not
confirmed whether the suspect had a prior criminal record.
The attack follows another high-profile shooting in
Manhattan just two weeks earlier, when a man killed four people in a skyscraper
before taking his own life — the deadliest mass shooting in the city in 25
years.
Despite a significant drop in violent crime since
the early 1990s, incidents of gun violence continue to unsettle New Yorkers.
Gun laws in New York State are among the strictest
in the United States, but firearms remain readily accessible due to looser
regulations in other states and the ease of interstate transport.
Advocates for tighter restrictions say this latest
attack underscores the urgent need for national reform. “It’s not enough for
one city to have strong laws when guns can be brought in from anywhere,” said
Maria Torres, a spokesperson for the Gun Safety Alliance.
Opponents of stricter gun control argue that
enforcement of existing laws should be the priority, citing the fact that the
suspect in this case was already prohibited from legally owning a firearm due
to his age.
Tourism officials expressed concern about the
potential impact on the city’s image, given that Times Square draws an estimated
50 million visitors annually.
While police presence in the area is typically
high, the shooting raises questions about the effectiveness of current safety
measures in preventing armed attacks.
City officials are expected to hold a press
conference on Monday to provide further details and outline next steps in the
investigation.
The NYPD has urged anyone with information or
footage of the incident to contact their tip line.