On Monday night (December 1st), a gunshot was reported in the subway station of 42nd St–Port Authority Bus Terminal near Times Square, causing panic among the people present. Fortunately, no one was injured in the incident, and two suspects have been detained by the police, with investigations ongoing.
The incident took place around 8:30 p.m. in the mezzanine area of the A/C/E line platform. According to several media reports, two young men were involved in a heated argument inside the station, which escalated into at least one gunshot, possibly two, as stated by the police.
Several street performers and passengers at the scene described the chaotic situation at the moment of the gunfire to the media.
Musician Henny Mack, who was performing inside the station, told ABC7 that he heard a “gunshot-like loud noise” and saw a group of teenagers nearby scrambling in panic. He recalled that the teenagers seemed to be having a good time playing around, but suddenly the loud noise rang out.
Another performer, Eddie Conner, informed CBS New York that after hearing a gunshot echo through the passageway, people either ducked down, ran, or screamed loudly.
The police secured the area and found shell casings on the ground, leading to the detention of the two individuals involved.
The New York City Police Department (NYPD) stated that the two suspects were brought in for questioning at the scene but no formal charges have been filed yet. The decision on charges will be made after further investigation based on the evidence collected at the scene, surveillance footage, and witness testimonies.
Currently, the police have not disclosed details such as the source of the gun, the cause of the altercation between the two parties, and other specifics.
The location of the incident is one of the busiest and most critical interchange hubs in New York City, connecting multiple subway lines and the Port Authority Bus Terminal, drawing a huge crowd of commuters daily. In recent years, subway violence incidents have been a subject of public concern, and although no injuries were reported in this case, it has once again sparked discussions among the public and officials regarding subway safety.
The police urge anyone with more relevant information to contact the NYPD to assist in the investigation.