At least 13 people were shot or otherwise injured after a lone gunman in a reflective vest and possibly a gas mask threw smoke bombs on a subway car in Brooklyn and began shooting Tuesday morning.
A manhunt is now underway as details continue to emerge in this developing situation.
At least four of the victims were found at the 36th Street subway station in Sunset Park and another at the 25th Street station in Greenwood Heights just before 8:30 a.m.
It appears at this time to have happened on the southbound R train, beginning at the 25th Street station. As the doors closed, the suspect threw the smoke bombs and opened fire.
The victims, and presumably the suspect, then got off the subway train at the 36th Street station.
No arrests have been made, and schools in the area went into a lockdown or shelter in place as the search continues.
Police were looking at as many as four packages initially deemed suspicious, but they were later determined to be unfounded.
The victims were taken to various hospitals.
NYU Langone-Brooklyn told the ABC News Medical Unit they took eight patients who are in stable condition.
Five of the victims are at Maimonides Medical Center, where two were being treated for gunshot wounds and three for smoke inhalation.
None of the injuries are considered life-threatening at this point.
The suspect was described as a Black male, 5-foot-5, and 175 to 180 pounds.
An FBI official says they are assisting NYPD and that it remains unclear at this point whether there is any connection to terrorism, but FBI headquarters is monitoring.
The N/R lines are shut from 59th Street in Manhattan to Atlantic Avenue in Brooklyn, and there are subway service disruptions throughout the area across multiple lines.
Mayor Eric Adams is monitoring the situation but cannot respond due to his recent COVID diagnosis. Governor Kathy Hochul said she has also been briefed.
Nassau County police said they increasing patrols around all critical infrastructure with an emphasis on mass transit, though there is no known threat, and that Commissioner Patrick Ryder has been in conversations with the NYPD and has briefed Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman.
White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said President Joe Biden has been apprised of the situation.
A Department of Justice spokesperson said Attorney General Merrick Garland has also received a preliminary briefing and is monitoring the situation.
Police officers were canvassing 4th Avenue, the station’s cross-street, asking witnesses whether they were on the train. A sea of emergency lights was visible from at least a dozen blocks away, where a police cordon was set up.
