Photo: AFP
At least 10 people riding a subway Tuesday morning in Brooklyn were shot by a man wearing a gas mask and a green construction vest, who opened fire in a crowded Manhattan-bound N train as it pulled into the station at 36th Street and 4th Avenue.
The man activated a smoke device on the train moments before opening fire as its doors opened, according to the NYPD.
FDNY reported that at least 16 people were hurt, 10 were treated for gunshot wounds; five of those individuals were listed as being in critical but stable condition. No fatalities were reported and no injuries were considered life-threatening.
A manhunt was underway Tuesday as the shooter remained at large through the morning and early afternoon.
People are urged to contact Crime Stoppers at 800 - 577 - TIPS with any information about the attack, especially if they have photos/videos of the subway platform.
NYPD Commissioner Keechant Sewell said in a press briefing Tuesday afternoon that there are no known explosive devices in the subway system; the only device used in the incident other than the handgun was the smoke canister.
Other unused smoke canisters were found on the subway car where the shooting occurred. The MTA reported finding gasoline on the car as well.
The department could not speculate on a motive for the attack, though it appears to have been premeditated.
The suspect is described as a Black male, about 5-foot-5-inches tall with a heavy build. He was wearing a green construction vest over a grey hoodie at the time of the incident.
The suspect reportedly donned a gas mask and activated the smoke device as the train was approaching the platform. The train filled with smoke and gunfire erupted as the doors opened.
Amidst the chaos, an MTA conduction on a train opposite the platform urged panicked commuters aboard and brought the train one stop to the 25th Street station.
D, N and R subway service is suspended in Brooklyn while NYPD investigates the incident.
Commuters are advised to be vigilant and to check service status here before traveling.
City and state officials, including Governor Kathy Hochul, held an initial press briefing on the incident shortly after noontime on Tuesday.
The incident represents an escalation of a concerning increase in crime in New York city, particularly on mass transit.
Gov. Hochul pledged the "full resources of our state to fight this surge of crime" during the press briefing.
MTA Commissioner Janno Lieber applauded MTA workers for how they responded to the situation, particularly the conductor who moved the arriving R train to safety.
He added that he was heartened seeing how other commuters sprung into action, despite the chaotic situation, administering first aid to the injured and helping each other to safety.
"I watched New Yorkers come back from [the 9/11] tragedy," he told reporters. "That was the same thing we saw on the platform today. We saw New Yorkers in a difficult situation, in an emergency, showing who they are."