A 15-year-old from Venezuela who arrived in New York City less than six months ago is wanted and considered “armed and dangerous” over a shooting at a Times Square sporting goods store that left a tourist injured, NYPD officials said Friday.
Jesus Alejandro Rivas-Figueroa is being sought as a person of interest in connection to the chaotic Thursday night incident, Chief of Patrol John Chell told reporters.
He arrived in New York from Venezuela in September and has been staying at a temporary shelter at the Stratford Hotel on West 70th Street, Chell said.
He is also a suspect in an armed robbery in the Bronx from January 27, and another incidents in which shots were fired in Midtown, the police official said.
The teen is considered “armed and dangerous” with what police believe is a “very large” .40-caliber handgun, Chell added.
He allegedly fired two shots at police officers when fleeing the scene Thursday night.
“He had no problems firing into a crowd at a store…and not shooting at cops once, but shooting at them twice,” Chell said of the Rivas-Figueroa.
“We’re not gonna put up with this,” he insisted.
Here’s the latest on the Times Square shooting
- A tourist was shot in the leg at a retail store in Times Square on Thursday night by a shoplifter. The shoplifter then opened fire at an NYPD officer in Midtown, according to police.
- NYPD has identified Jesus Lejenadro Rivas-Figueroa, 15, as a person of interest in connection to the Thursday night shooting, Chief of Patrol John Chell said.
- The NYPD has offered a $10,000 reward for anyone with information leading to the suspect.
- A security guard at JD Sports at West 42 Street and Broadway approached a group of young males to stop them from stealing when one pulled out a gun, fired it in her direction and missed, hitting the nearby tourist.
- Sources said Friday that a 15-year-old and a third person were taken into custody and later released.
Rivas-Figueroa and the two additional unnamed 16- and 15-year-old suspects went to school together, Chell said
While the other 15-year-old was detained at the scene Thursday night, police are still trying to determine the 16-year-old’s role in the incident, the police official said.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
