Hours after the New York Knicks won the NBA championship for the first time in 53 years, celebrations in the city turned violent. A video showed gunshots being fired in Times Square, which forced hundreds of celebrating fans to run for cover on Saturday night. New York City Police also confirmed the shooting, stating that a man with a gun was tracked down and a loaded gun was recovered from his waistband.
Times Square Erupts in Violence
Several videos of the incident have emerged online and show how the chaos unfolded. In a clip, at least seven gunshots can be heard near 42nd Street and Broadway in Times Square. This area was packed with a huge crowd of fans who had gathered for hours to celebrate the Knicks' championship victory. A 17-year-old boy was shot during the chaos. As the heavy crowds blocked the streets, an ambulance could not get through, forcing police officers to rush the teenager to the hospital in a police car.
Police Nab The Person
Another video showed police officers catching a person and taking a loaded gun away from him. According to the CBS News report, multiple people were injured, property was destroyed, and four people were stabbed. Crowded streets turned into violent riots as fans smashed police car windshields with bats and set fire to five school buses and five police vehicles. Fights broke out throughout the crowds, while some people climbed lamp posts and traffic lights to launch fireworks into the masses.
New York Police confirmed that 63 people were arrested, with several charged with assault on a police officer, criminal possession of weapon and disorderly conduct. As the celebration turned chaotic, Knicks owner James Dolan urged fans to stay calm. “We need to tell everybody in New York that we know that they’re celebrating, we want them to have a great time,” he said.
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