Food cart vendor shot in Times Square after dispute with group of people; 3 arrested
Times Square shooting suspect claims self-defense
A 21-year-old man from Harlem has been arrested and charged with attempted murder and assault after police say he opened fire during a fight with a food vendor in Times Square, but he claims it was self-defense. FOX 5's Linda Schmidt has the story.
NEW YORK CITY - A Harlem man has been arrested after allegedly opening fire in Times Square during an early morning altercation with a food cart vendor, leaving one person injured. Police say the shooting stemmed from a confrontation involving a large group of young people and the vendor near 47th Street and 7th Avenue.
Times Square shooting
What we know:
Police have identified the suspect as 21-year-old Emanuel Charles of Harlem. He was taken into custody and is facing charges including attempted murder and assault.
The shooting happened just before 5 a.m. near 7th Avenue and W. 47th Street. SkyFOX was over the scene, where several police vehicles were seen.
According to the NYPD, Charles was part of a group of young people—both male and female—who were involved in an argument with a food vendor around 4:45 a.m. Monday morning in the heart of Times Square.
NYPD update on Times Square, Brooklyn shootings
NYPD Chief of Patrol John Chell joined Good Day New York to provide updates on the shooting in Times Square, as well as the police-involved shooting in Brooklyn.
Authorities say that during the altercation, Charles pulled out a gun and fired approximately six shots. One of those bullets struck 29-year-old vendor Ayaman Gzale in the arm. Another bullet hit the food cart.
Rob Rosenberg, a witness who spoke with FOX 5 about what he saw said that the fight seemed to be ending when Charles allegedly opened fire.
"What it seems to be was that someone grabs something from the vendor. And the vendor chased after them to grab it back," he said. "The one thing—that vendor did have a knife, so maybe he got in trouble for that. But the thing is, it was pretty much over at that point, and they were walking away, and then the kid just decided to start shooting in the direction of the vendor."
As Charles was escorted out of the Midtown North Precinct, he claimed that the shooting was in self-defense.
What they're saying:
"Looks like this group walked across 47th Street, one stepped back into the middle of the street, fires down toward the vendors," Chell said. "But a good quick response, at least, we think we have him off the street."
