Nov 1, 2007 6:35 pm US/Eastern
Halloween Horror: 4 Shot Near Union Square
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
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Police are investigating why four people were shot near Union Square early on Thursday morning.
CBS
Halloween festivities were interrupted by violence in the middle of Manhattan. Police are trying to determine who was behind four shootings and a stabbing near Union Square Park.
NYPD officers combed through the northwest part of Union Square park, looking for weapons, after what they say could be an instance of gang related violence just before 1 a.m.
"I saw a lot of people in, running back and forth, like they didn't know what happened," said Justin Rodriguez. " I saw people running after a couple of gunshots."
An 18-year-old was critically stabbed in the stomach, and four young people between ages 15 and 19 were shot. Police say it happened at East 17th and Park Avenue outside a McDonald's.
The shooting victims were taken to Bellevue Hospital, and the other victim to St. Vincent's Hospital, police said.
"The victims may have some gang membership," said Police Commissioner Ray Kelly.
And the assailants may have been of the same ilk, with perhaps nothing more than an insult to set them off.
Commissioner Kelly added the violence may have ensued due to "some sort of disrespect shown."
People who live near the park say the area is safe, but say with a major subway station here, people bent on crime can easily come in.
"If you have people come in from different parts of town, you might have a conflict," said area resident Henry Kaiser.
"This area is fundamentally, usually safe," added Irene Daria. "But things can happen."
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