A teen was charged with attempted murder in a broad-daylight burst of gunfire that sent tourists scrambling in Times Square, cops said Friday – as sources revealed the frightening incident may have stemmed from a gang feud.
The 17-year-old boy was also charged with assault, criminal possession of a weapon, reckless endangerment and unlawful possession of an ammunition feeding device in the 3:30 p.m. Thursday mayhem at West 44th Street and Broadway, police said.
Wild video showed at least two people in black clothing open fire with what appears to be handguns as they stepped into the tourist-packed intersection.
Nobody was struck by the gunfire during the shocking melee, but a bullet did hit a car, cops and witnesses said.
The young suspect, whose name wasn’t publicly released because he’s underage, was swiftly captured by cops after a brief foot pursuit, and a Glock pistol was recovered, law-enforcement sources said.
Investigators were probing whether the gunfire stemmed from a bitter gang rivalry, according to the sources.
Police couldn’t say Friday whether any other suspects were being sought in the shootout.
Witnesses reported hearing about five shots, as wild video captured scores of people running for cover.
“One dude shot another dude and the police got him,” an eyewitness, who declined to give his name, told The Post. “I didn’t hear no fight, I just heard shots.
“Five shots. Bang bang bang bang bang. People started running. Everybody just took cover. Once they apprehended him, it was back to normal. Now we over here eating shish kabab chilling.”
Another witness said the timing was “unfortunate,” hours after New Yorkers celebrated the Knicks’ long-awaited NBA Championship win along the Canyon of Heroes in Lower Manhattan.
“This is supposed to be the best day out here in New York,” the bystander said. “The Knicks took the W, that’s all we ever wanted for 53 years.”