Celebrations following the New York Knicks' NBA championship victory turned destructive in Times Square early Sunday as revelers vandalized several parked school buses, including one that was set on fire, and a teenager was shot nearby, police said.
A 17-year-old was shot in the left foot around 2 a.m. at 42nd Street and Broadway as large crowds gathered in the area after the Knicks won the NBA title. The teen was taken to Bellevue Hospital in stable condition, police said.
Three persons of interest were taken into custody, and a firearm was recovered, according to the NYPD.
Videos posted on social media showed crowds near the 42nd Street subway station climbing atop school buses, removing grills, mirrors, and hoods, and damaging vehicle parts. One bus was engulfed in flames after burning clothing was thrown inside, according to footage from the scene.
Additional videos showed people standing on exposed engines, smashing debris in the street and spray-painting graffiti on damaged vehicles. One bus was marked with messages including “Let’s Go Knicks” and an anti-ICE slogan.
The New York Police Department responded to the area around 2:30 a.m. Police said “multiple people” were arrested amid the unrest, but a full arrest total was not immediately available.
At least one person was arrested after allegedly punching an officer, according to law enforcement sources. Another person, described as a livestreamer, was taken into custody after climbing on top of an Amazon vehicle, according to the report.
Witnesses expressed concern over the damage, noting that some of the buses appeared to be public school vehicles.
A driver of another bus targeted by the crowd pleaded with people to stop damaging his vehicle, saying the costs would affect his income, according to video and witness accounts.
The extent of the property damage and whether additional injuries were reported were not immediately known.