Man killed in NYC subway station shooting, officials say
A man was killed in a shooting at a Midtown Manhattan subway station Saturday, officials say.
It happened on the northbound E train platform at the Seventh Avenue station near West 53rd Street just before 12:30 p.m.
Police said two men got into a dispute on the platform. According to the NYPD, the dispute spilled onto a train that had pulled into the station, then back onto the platform.
It's unclear at this time if the shots were fired on the platform or on the train, police said in a press conference Saturday afternoon.
Authorities say the victim was shot in the chest and taken to a local hospital in critical condition, where he was pronounced dead. Police say they are not releasing the victim's identity until family has been notified, but the victim was possibly in his 30s.
Police say the gunman fled on foot. No arrests have been made. The NYPD has released photos of a person wanted in connection to the shooting. He was last seen wearing a red tracksuit, a black vest and a black face mask.
Anyone with information is urged to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477), or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). The public may also submit tips online at Crime Stoppers website or via X @NYPDTips.
A witness who was on the subway described the chaos after hearing the gunshots.
"I heard the gunshots, so everyone just threw themselves on the floor. We sat for a while, and someone said, 'Get off the train.' We got off and saw police working on the gentleman who was shot," said Paul Sampson, who was aboard the train.
The MTA said they are coordinating with the NYPD and working to retrieve surveillance footage from cameras on the platform and train cars.
"Guns have no place in transit which is why we've strongly supported New York State's legal fight to make sure it's illegal to carry them in the subway system," Kemper said in a statement, in part. "The perpetrator will be caught and should face maximum consequences from the justice system. It is fortunate nobody outside the fight was hurt."
One witness said she and her daughter had just boarded the train and sat down when they heard multiple shots being fired on the platform.
"All of a sudden I heard a shot, and then there was like a mass exodus. Everyone started running out, and then there was at least probably three more [shots]," the daughter said.
No weapons were recovered at the scene, police say. The investigation is ongoing.
