In the early hours of Saturday, August 9, 2025, at around 1:20 a.m., a 17-year-old teenager opened fire in New York City’s busy Times Square, apparently following a verbal dispute, according to a police spokesperson cited by AFP.
The victims include an 18-year-old woman, grazed by a bullet on the neck; a 19-year-old man, shot in the right foot; and a 65-year-old man, wounded in the left leg. All were transported to Bellevue Hospital, where they remain in stable condition.
The suspect was arrested at the scene and the firearm used was recovered, although formal charges have not yet been filed. Footage shared on social media shows scenes of panic: people running, police cars arriving, and immediate aid being given to the injured.
This incident comes amid a historic drop in gun-related events in the city: as of August 3, the number of shootings has fallen by 23% compared to the same period last year.
How significant is this incident in the context of gun violence in New York?
Although the attack took place in a major tourist hotspot and caused alarm, it does not mark an uptick in violence, as 2025 is on track for record-low shooting numbers in the city.
Final takeaway
The Times Square shooting left three people injured in an urban altercation. Despite its severity, it does not change the city’s current downward trend in gun violence, though it renews calls for stricter gun control.