NYPD has announced that a Glock 17 9mm with three extended round magazines has been recovered at the scene of a mass shooting in a subway at the 36th Street station in the Sunset Park neighborhood of Brooklyn.
One of the magazines was emptied, a second one was partially used — and jammed — and a third was full, found in a backpack at the scene.
Law enforcement officials are also closing in on determining the identity of the perpetrator, using an image of the suspect gleaned from bystander footage.
At least 16 people were taken to hospitals after having been wounded in the Tuesday morning rush hour shooting that began in a subway car as the N line pulled into the 36th Street station.
The attacker escaped. He is described as a heavy-set black male, about 5 feet 5 inches tall, 180 pounds, wearing what appeared to be an MTA uniform with a “green construction-type vest,” a grey hooded sweatshirt and a gas mask. He was carrying a bag.
An alert sent to NYPD officers said to be on the lookout for a U-Haul van with Arizona license plate number AL31408 that is believed to be connected to the shooter. “Take extreme precaution when stopping vehicle,” the NYPD warned in the alert.
New York Police Commissioner Keechant Sewell told reporters at a news briefing that the shooter opened fire at around 8:24 am from within the subway car on the Manhattan-bound N line as the train pulled into the 36th Street station.
“He donned a gas mask, took a canister out of his bag, and opened the canister. The car began filling with smoke, and he opened fire,” she said.
“We say no more mass shootings, no more disrupting lives, no more creating heartbreak for people just trying to live their lives as normal New Yorkers,” said New York Governor Kathy Hochul. “It has to end.”
Of those injured, 10 had gunshot wounds. Five of the victims are reported to be in critical but stable condition. Most of the others sustained injuries from smoke inhalation, shrapnel and “panic.”
Eight of the victims are being treated at NYU Langone Medical Center in Brooklyn. Several more are being treated at Maimonides Medical Center in the Borough Park section of Brooklyn, and several are being treated at the New York Presbyterian hospital satellite in the borough.
Multiple people shot at 36 street station by two people in #sunsetpark. All are currently being transported to the hospital #NewYork #Brooklyn pic.twitter.com/3Va2iXf0JQ
— Derek French Photo (@derekcfrench) April 12, 2022
Security cameras in the subway station were not working at the time, according to multiple reports.
Mayor Eric Adams issued a statement via Twitter shortly after the news briefing. The mayor is overseeing the response to the attack remotely, as he is currently in quarantine after being diagnosed with COVID-19 earlier this week.
My statement on this morning's shooting in Brooklyn: pic.twitter.com/TbLfCZa7WW
— Mayor Eric Adams (@NYCMayor) April 12, 2022
“We will not allow New Yorkers to be terrorized even by a single individual,” the mayor vowed.
The incident took place just as children were going to school and their parents traveling to their work places. A number of parents were on the train, bringing their children to school, at the time of the attack.
A public high school is located across the street from the subway station.
The attack is being investigated as an act of terrorism, according to Newsweek, although officials at the 12 noon briefing said that was not the case. The police commissioner said, “I’m not ruling out anything.”
Very dramatic video from the incident as the subway arrived at 36th St Sunset Park in Brooklyn. #brooklyn #shooting #nyc pic.twitter.com/5cOdeYPIb1
— Kristoffer Kumm (@Kristofferkumm) April 12, 2022
Multiple smoke devices appeared to have been used.
Multiple photos showing blood on the platform and wounded lying in several locations are appearing on social media.
Unconfirmed reports of an explosion at the scene were debunked by the police commissioner.
Dozens of police vehicles with flashing lights stretched at least four blocks down the street, with crowds of first responders, police and other law enforcement personnel gathered on the street around the subway station.
Police are reviewing security camera footage and videos from social media to determine what happened and to identify the shooter.
At least one video seen on social media shows the incident unfolding, with the sounds of a gun being fired, from inside a subway car.
No active explosive devices were found at the scene, police said.
Warning: GRAPHIC VIDEO
Multiple people shot in Brooklyn subway stop during rush hour.#nypd #Brooklyn #sunsetpark #fbi#BreakingNews #fdny #subway #Terrorism #shooting #nyc #Terroristattack #36st
— NY Actions (@NY_ACTIONS) April 12, 2022
The gunman fled in the subway. It’s not yet known whether there were accomplices and if so, who and where they are. A motive has not yet been established.
President Joe Biden is being updated on the situation, White House spokesperson Jen Psaki wrote in a tweet, adding, “White House senior staff are in touch with Mayor Adams and Police Commissioner Sewell to offer any assistance as needed.”
The NYPD is leading the investigation with support from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the FBI and Department of Homeland Security. The Joint Terrorism Task Force — comprised of 50 federal, state and local agencies, including the Department of Homeland Security — is also working with NYPD on the investigation.
New York Army National Guard was deployed to provide security at Grand Central Station terminal in Manhattan, and the Connecticut State Police were ordered to deploy to the New Haven, Bridgeport and Stamford train stations following the attack.
Local schools are under “shelter in place” orders until the end of the school day.
Service is halted on the B and W lines. The D, N and R lines are running with suspensions and shuttle service, according to MTA CEO Janno Lieber.
