NEW YORK, NY – A manhunt is currently in progress for a suspect who allegedly shot a woman in a Times Square clothing store before firing at police officers as he made his escape from the bustling tourist area, police reports indicate.
The suspect, identified as a Hispanic male aged between 15 and 20 years old, was dressed entirely in white and is sought for attempted murder of a police officer. He was reportedly part of a group suspected of shoplifting from JD Sports on West 42nd Street and Broadway around 7:05 p.m., according to the information shared at a late-night press conference by the police.
The situation escalated when a female security guard confronted the group and retrieved the stolen merchandise. The suspect then allegedly produced a firearm and shot at the security guard. The bullet missed its intended target and instead hit a 37-year-old female tourist in the leg. She was promptly transported to a nearby hospital.
The suspect, along with a male accomplice, also a 15-year-old Hispanic male, fled the store and headed towards 47th Avenue. Two police officers in the vicinity pursued the suspects, apprehending the accomplice, who was later released without charges. The main suspect, however, continued his flight along 47th Street towards Sixth Avenue, firing twice at the pursuing officer.
The suspect managed to evade capture by ducking into a gap between two buildings and firing at the officer. Despite being under fire, the officer did not return shots due to the presence of bystanders. The suspect then disappeared into the subway station at 46th Street and Sixth Avenue. He was last seen on surveillance footage in the subway, and despite discarding his white jacket, he remains at large.
The incident comes on the heels of a recent Supreme Court ruling limiting where firearms can be legally carried in public in New York. The city is also grappling with a surge in pickpocketing and shoplifting incidents.