At least 5 people shot, 'undetonated devices' found at Brooklyn subway station, officials say

NEW YORK — Multiple people were shot and several "undetonated devices" were found at a Brooklyn subway station Tuesday morning, according to the New York City Fire Department.

Firefighters responded to a call for smoke at the subway station at 36th Street and 4th Avenue in Brooklyn's Sunset Park neighborhood and found shooting victims and the devices, the New York City Fire Department said in a statement.

The fire department said 13 people were injured and taken to hospitals. A law enforcement official told USA TODAY five of the 13 injured had gunshot wounds. The official was not authorized to comment publicly.

Eight of the injured were taken to NYU Langone Hospital – Brooklyn, and all were in stable condition, spokeswoman Lacy Scarmana said Tuesday morning. New York-Presbyterian Brooklyn Hospital said three patients injured in the attack were being treated, but no information on their medical conditions was immediately available.

A New York City Police Department spokesperson told USA TODAY officers were investigating reports of shots fired.

The police department said in a tweet, "there are NO active explosive devices at this time" and advised residents to stay clear of the area.

Avellana De La Cruz, 25, was texting her boss that she would be late to work while waiting for the subway when dozens of people, some with bloodstains, started running out of the station. De La Cruz said people were crying and shouting while others stood, calling the police or recording with their phones.

Confused, De La Cruz remained at the station until an announcement told riders to evacuate. As she was exiting the station, De La Cruz said a woman, covered in blood with a wound across her face, asked for help finding police. Together, they left the subway and found an ambulance.  

"One minute I was on my phone and the next everyone was running and crying," De La Cruz said. "It was chaos in there and hard to focus on whether the attack was really over," she added. 

Tim O’Donnell, 31, who regularly commutes into Manhattan on the N train, said he had headphones in when he heard a conductor tell riders to board a local R train across the platform. Then he heard the loudspeaker announcement to evacuate.

On the way out, O’Donnell said he saw a man with his pant leg rolled up and what appeared to be a bloody gash on his leg. O'Donnell thought the man may have fallen on the steps with drizzling rain, but he started receiving texts about the shooting as he headed home.

"Violence on the subway isn't new to our area but seeing so many people so terrified and so many people saying they saw people in blood, it's crazy," Miranda added.

Photos on social media appeared to show multiple people bleeding on a smoky subway platform shortly after reports of the shooting. The New York Times and Associated Press reported a person with a construction vest and gas mask was being sought.

President Joe Biden was briefed on the situation and the White House has been in touch with Adams and Police Commissioner Keechant Sewell, press secretary Jen Psaki tweeted. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said in a tweet she had been briefed on the "developing situation."