Teen Shooter in Times Square Shooting Faces Bail

A 17-year-old suspected of firing shots into a crowd in Times Square on Saturday has been ordered held on $200,000 bail. The incident resulted in three people injured, including two bystanders, with bullets hitting a 19-year-old man in the leg, a 65-year-old woman in the knee, and a Maryland tourist in the neck.

The suspect, Jayden Clarke, was arraigned in Manhattan criminal court on attempted murder charges. Surveillance footage captured the sequence of events, which police said occurred after Clarke argued with a Citibike rider inside a nearby restaurant at around 1 a.m. The altercation reportedly escalated once Clarke left the restaurant, followed by the other individual and associates.

While on 44th Street, Clarke pulled out a firearm, aimed it at the group, and fired three rounds, hitting the man who had been part of the initial argument and injuring the bystanders. He then ran westward and encountered a patrol officer, who recovered a loaded .380-caliber Glock from Clarke’s waistband.

Clarke later spoke to detectives voluntarily, confessing to firing the weapon and intentionally shooting the first victim. His lawyer requested a reduced bail of $10,000 cash or a $50,000 bond, emphasizing that he has no prior criminal record and recently graduated high school. Prosecutors argued for remand, citing the severity of offenses and potential penalties.

Judge Christopher Chin set bail at $200,000 and mandated the use of a monitoring device if Clarke is released. The defendant appeared in court dressed in casual attire, visibly cold from the air conditioning, as he faced the charges for attempted murder and gun possession.