– Accused in Times Square shooting
– Charged as an adult.
Accident – Death – Obituary News :
New York City, USA
CNN
A fifteen-year-old individual, who authorities have identified as a Venezuelan migrant that entered the United States in September last year, has been arrested and charged as an adult by the New York Police Department. The arrest comes after the teenager shot and injured a Brazilian tourist at a store in Times Square and fired at law enforcement officers while attempting to flee. According to a criminal complaint, the charges against the teen include two counts of attempted second-degree murder, two counts of attempted first-degree assault, two counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, and second-degree assault.
After an investigation, New York City detectives and US Marshals were able to locate and apprehend the teenager on Friday in Yonkers. The arrest was made possible by following a possible family connection to the area. The incident unfolded at JD Sports, a sneaker store located in Times Square. Video footage obtained by CNN shows that the altercation began when a store security guard approached the teenager and requested him to produce a receipt for a jacket he had in his bag.
The video evidence reveals that when the security guard took the bag from the suspect, the teenager reached into his coat for a gun and fired a shot. Unfortunately, the bullet struck a 37-year-old woman from Brazil who was visiting New York. Following the initial shooting, a half-mile foot chase ensued between the suspect and the police through Times Square. During the chase, the suspect fired two more shots at the pursuing officer. However, the officer did not return fire due to the crowded streets filled with pedestrians.
NYPD’s Chief of Patrol, John Chell, commended the officers involved, stating, “Our cops showed great restraint not to fire their weapon into crowded New Yorkers.” This incident occurred only a block away from where police had previously confronted a group of men from a migrant shelter on January 27, which resulted in a scuffle where nearly a dozen young men assaulted two officers as they attempted to make an arrest.
At a news conference on Friday, NYPD Police Commissioner Edward Caban described the shooting as “way beyond reckless.” He emphasized the seriousness of the incident, stating, “In the middle of the busiest, most highly-trafficked part of this city, a criminal with a firearm decided to pull the trigger.” Caban also issued a stern warning, saying, “If you think you can attack a member of this department, 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.”
During the bail application read at the teen’s arraignment, Manhattan Assistant District Attorney Kathleen Coulson requested that he be remanded. The prosecution argued that the defendant posed an extreme flight risk and is facing a long sentence of incarceration if convicted. In addition to the Times Square shooting, the teenager is also suspected of being involved in two other incidents in New York City last month, including a gunpoint robbery in the Bronx and firing a gun on 45th Street and Broadway.
CNN has reached out to an attorney listed for the teenager for comment, but no response has been received thus far. The teenager is expected to appear in court again on February 13. CNN’s Sabrina Shulman and Ashley R. Williams contributed to this report.
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– Accused in Times Square shooting charged as an adult
– 15-year-old implicated in Times Square shooting faces adult charges.
