Police shot fire in an attempt to subdue an agitated man in Times Square Saturday night, but struck two female bystanders instead.
The agitated man, identified as 35-year-old Glenn Broadnax, blocked traffic, laid down in an intersection, darted in front of cars, and mimed shooting at police officers. After the police’s attempt to stop the man via gunfire was unsuccessful, he was shocked with a Taser and taken to a hospital, CNN reports. Upon entering the hospital, he was described as an “emotionally disturbed person.”
According to The New York Times, the two women mistakenly hit during the episode are from Manhattan and happened to be walking by when police opened fire. One woman, 54, fractured her tibia and fibula and is expected to undergo surgery. The second woman, 35, suffered a graze wound to her buttocks. Their injuries are non-life threatening.
The officers involved in the misfire are relatively new to the force, Police Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly said at a news conference Sunday morning. One officer had a year and a half of experience on the force, and the other had three years. Neither officer had been in a shooting before Saturday night.
An investigation looking into Saturday’s shooting is underway.