Times Square shooting suspect, 15, taken into custody in Yonkers

NEW YORK — A teen has been arrested for shooting a vacationer in Times Square Thursday night time. 

It was once a manhunt for lots of the day prior to U.S. Marshals discovered the 15-year-old at a house on Saratoga Avenue in Yonkers. 

“If you think you can threaten the lives of the very people who keep us safe, if you think you can put others at deadly risk and get away with it, then think again. We will never stop pursuing you. We will find you, and we will arrest you,” NYPD Commissioner Edward Caban stated. 

Shocking surveillance video displays the instant an adolescent, dressed all in white, opened hearth on a feminine safety guard within JD Sports in Times Square. 

According to police, the gunman and two pals stole garments and shoes and had been looking to go out the shop when a safety guard faced them. The youngster in white can also be noticed on video strolling away, after which turning round, pointing a .45 caliber pistol, and firing. 

“The girl who got shot was between us two. We heard a big bang and then realized what happened,” vacationer Lone Hansen stated. 

Officials stated the bullet neglected the guard, however hit a vacationer from Brazil in the leg, slightly lacking Hansen and her son, who’re visiting from Denmark. 

“I just heard the gunshots and then everybody run,” Albert Hansen stated. 

Police stated the mayhem spilled onto the streets of Times Square, forcing other folks to run and duck for defense. 

Watch: NYPD supplies replace on Times Square shooting arrest

“He turns once. He fires towards our officer. Our officer takes his gun out. He cannot return fire, there’s too many people in his way. As the suspect goes through the cut between the buildings, he’s running, he takes his gun out under his armpit, he fires again at our officer,” NYPD Chief of Patrol John Chell stated. “I gotta tell you – one of those bullets hits our cop last night, this is a whole different conversation we’re having today. Our cop showed great restraint not to fire their weapon into crowded New Yorkers.” 

Officials stated Jesus Lejenadro Rivas-Figueroa, 15, a migrant from Venezuela, first of all controlled to break out via operating into the subway. 

“We don’t care who you are, what your status is. We’re not going to broad brush a whole migrant community as being bad people,” Chell stated. 

The brazen shooting in Times Square Thursday night time comes after the Jan. 27 Times Square assault the place a gaggle of fellows – most commonly migrants, in step with police – assaulted two contributors of the NYPD. The Manhattan district legal professional launched frame digital camera video Thursday, pronouncing seven other folks had been indicted in that case. 

Chell insisted Times Square is secure. 

“Take a look around you. Thousands of people shopping, walking around. Times Square is safe. We are still the safest city in the world. If you see these incidents, our cops are right there where they’re supposed to be,” Chell stated. “We’d like to prevent everything from happening, but the second best thing is to be there, effect arrests, and keep this community safe. Yes, Times Square is very safe.” 

“No, I don’t feel that safe. How could you feel safe?” stated Kazi Meursaed, who owns a vacationer store close to the scene. “I hear two or three shots, and people run away scared.”   

“There are some Venezuelan groups of migrants – and I say some, not all – that are affecting crime in our city more so now than when they first got here,” Chell stated. “We saw the moped robberies and snatches. We see pockets being picked in Times Square and on the subway. We see some groups going into stores – Macy’s, Kings Plaza, Glass Hut – and stealing property. So yes, it’s a trend. But I want to be clear here again: We don’t care. We don’t care who you are, what you are, what your status is. Our job is to keep this community safe.” 

The vacationer who was once struck via the stray bullet has been launched from the medical institution and is in just right spirits. 

In the period in-between, the NYPD has a message for somebody who commits a criminal offense in New York City. 

“Your new status that the NYPD is going to give you is criminal if you start preying on vulnerable New Yorkers,” NYPD Deputy Commissioner of Operations Kaz Daughtry stated. 

Bisram talked with the protection guard at the telephone. She was once again at paintings Friday, however didn’t need to communicate in regards to the incident..

Police say the suspect continues to be being wondered. No fees had been filed but.

Officials say he was once concerned in two different crimes, together with a gunpoint theft in the Bronx on Jan. 27 and every other incident in Manhattan when photographs had been fired.

Police stated every other 16-year-old suspect was once apprehended Friday morning, and every other 15-year-old was once apprehended in a while after the preliminary shoplifting incident.