Times Square Shooting: Police Kill Scam Artist Who Opened Fire

By: Edecio Martinez
Topics: Daily Blotter

(AP Photo/Louis Lanzano)

PICTURES: Times Square Shooting

NEW YORK (CBS/AP) A scam artist opened fire on police in busy Times Square on Thursday afternoon and was shot and killed by an officer near the famed Marriott Marquis hotel, police said.

Photo: A bullet hole in a shattered souvenir shop window in the garage of the Marriot Marquis Hotel in Times Square.

PICTURES: Times Square Shooting

No one else was injured. The 25-year-old suspect was recognized by a plainclothes sergeant on a task force that monitors aggressive panhandling, and took off running through the hotel's passenger drop-off area, chief New York Police Department spokesman Paul Browne said.

Photo: Officers inspect the Mac 10 machine gun and nearby magazine.

PICTURES: Times Square Shooting

At some point, the man turned and opened fire on the officer, continued running, then turned and fired again, Browne said. The plainclothes officer returned fire, killing the suspect, Browne said.

Dave Kinmahan, a tourist from Boston, was parking his car in a spot below street level at the hotel when he saw one man shooting another.

Kinmahan said he was about 20 yards away and wondered, "Is this real or this a movie?"

The hotel is located in the Broadway theater district and near the heart of Times Square, in an area that includes the Minskoff Theatre, home to the popular show "The Lion King." Bullets hit the box office of the Marquis Theater where "White Christmas" is now playing, cracking the window.

It's not clear how many shots were fired. Browne described the suspect's gun, which was recovered, as a pistol with a long clip.

Dozens of police officers surrounded the popular hotel, taping off the valet parking area as tourists and holiday shoppers stopped to watch the commotion.

Kathleen Duffy, a spokeswoman for New York City Marriott Hotels, said the shooting took place in a taxi pickup and drop-off area. Duffy said the shooting didn't involve any guests or hotel employees.

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PICTURES: Times Square Shooting

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by internet_killed_tv_star December 11, 2009 5:46 AM EST: innnnsane!; Reply to this comment


by rwsmith29456 December 10, 2009 10:34 PM EST: If you pull a gun and fire at police, you can pretty much expect them to return fire. I have no problem with that. Too many police have been killed because they are expected to not fire unless fired upon and often after about 1 second it is too late to react. I'm sorry the guy got killed if he was only in the scam business but I'd be sorrier if a cop got killed just doing his job.; Reply to this comment


by SocietysNightmare December 10, 2009 8:34 PM EST: Wonder if Barney Fife identified himself as a police officer BEFORE he started chasing the suspect? If a cop ran up on me and I didn't see a badge and he didn't identify himself, I'd let him have it too! Only difference is I'm NOT likely to miss.; Reply to this comment


by newsterl December 10, 2009 7:52 PM EST: Kinmahan said he was about 20 yards away and wondered, "Is this real or this a movie?"

LOL gezus, these days some moron has to wonder if gun shots on the street is a freaking MOVIE???
Guy must live in a cave.; Reply to this comment


by tbird6740 December 10, 2009 7:12 PM EST: How come the man's name, Raymond Martinez, fails to be mentioned? And why is it supposed that he was homeless? I'll bet he had a home. A place called Mexico!; Reply to this comment


by canislupus16 December 10, 2009 5:11 PM EST: Wow, stayed at that Marriott and been in that exact spot and nearby areas many times.

Too bad the guy had to be dusted but good job by the cop, and glad no innocent bystanders were hurt or worse which we all know is too often the case.; Reply to this comment


by barbaram99 December 10, 2009 5:09 PM EST: I am in Seattle and we have laid to rest 4 Lakewood WA police that was gunned down in cold as they sat in coffee shop getting ready to start their day using their notebooks..The killer was killed 2 days later in Seattle by a cop. It was so sad to watch the TV fore they were laid to reat..The officer in NYC shot that fool..Good..That man wrote the ticket..Ye don't ever point a gun at anyone..The cop was in the right..; Reply to this comment

by armyoftwelve December 10, 2009 4:41 PM EST

I bethca this homeless guy could have earned a few bucks if he would have turned his gun IN. He could have probably sold it if he wanted to.

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by SocietysNightmare December 10, 2009 8:29 PM EST: You can't be serious. We used to joke about that dumb *** mentality when I was a teen. Turn in my heat for cash or a gift card?! How 'bout let YOU turn YOURS in, then rob you for whatever they gave you. Homeless people packin' HEAT ain't new. Who do you think ends up with all the throwaways left behind after murders?! Next time somebody asks you for spare change, you might wanna think about that lil fact.

by mrjustice1 December 10, 2009 3:43 PM EST

If guns are outlawed, then only outlaws will have guns.

We, the decent, law-abiding citizens of America must be supplied with OUR OWN personal handguns for our own personal protection.

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by finkfurst December 10, 2009 5:04 PM EST: by mrjustice1 December 10, 2009 3:43 PM EST
If guns are outlawed, then only outlaws will have guns.
---------------------
You think the police shouldn't be armed?


by Wolf1944 December 10, 2009 11:45 PM EST: Does somebody have to repeat this moronic "if guns are outlawed" mantra every time a story involves guns? Are you just a little parrot? Or a robot? Is a computer automatically posting this bilge? CBS should require a Captcha for posting.

by NowBeWithThat December 10, 2009 3:42 PM EST

Many homeless people in NYC are packing. If you lived in New York, you'd understand.

What's even sadder is many homeless people suffer from mental illness on top of crack addiction and other health issues. Living on the street in this town is enough to drive anybody bonkers.

Thank God he didn't kill the police officer.

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by cbsblogger December 10, 2009 4:21 PM EST: "Living on the street in this town is enough to drive anybody bonkers."

I agree that many of the homeless are serious mental and drug cases and virtual time bombs. Ronald Reagan decided to fix it by closing all the mental institutions where many were housed and give them SSI and a box on the street instead?

Just living in NYC is enough to drive anyone bonkers imho.