Two teenagers were arrested and charged with gun possession in connection with a shooting that occurred in Times Square shortly after the New York Knicks secured the NBA championship, law enforcement officials reported Monday.
Carmelo Rodriguez, 18, and a 17-year-old juvenile whose name was not disclosed, face charges related to firearms possession. Authorities said Rodriguez was found in possession of a 9mm handgun equipped with an extended magazine, which was loaded with 23 rounds, according to court documents. Rodriguez resides in Harlem and was ordered held without bail following his arraignment in Manhattan Criminal Court on Sunday.
The arrests followed an incident that took place around 2 a.m. Sunday near the intersection of West 42nd Street and Broadway. A 17-year-old boy was shot in the foot during the chaos but is expected to recover. Due to large crowds in the area celebrating the Knicks victory, police had difficulty securing ambulance access, so officers transported the victim to Bellevue Hospital. The injured teenager is a Staten Island resident.
Despite the arrests, the individual who fired the shot remains at large. The celebrations in Times Square led to significant unrest, including numerous arrests, assaults on multiple NYPD officers, and the vandalism or burning of five school buses.
Authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the shooting and the broader disorder that unfolded in the early hours following the Knicks’ championship win.
