Teen shot in foot amid unruly crowds as NYC fans celebrate Knicks championship
Chaos unfolded in New York City in the hours after thousands of Knicks fans flooded streets across Manhattan to celebrate the franchise's first NBA title since 1973. A 17-year-old male was shot once in the left foot and hospitalized in stable condition, while three persons of interest were taken into custody and a firearm was recovered, police said.
More than 60 arrests as 'unruly' Knicks fans wrought destruction, injured police: NYPD
More than 60 people were arrested in the streets of New York City in the hours after the Knicks captured their first championship in 53 years Saturday night as celebration gave way to mayhem and violence, the New York Police Department said Sunday morning.
Police said 63 people were arrested in relation to the game on charges ranging from assault on a police officer, criminal possession of weapon (gun), criminal mischief, disorderly conduct, resisting arrest and obstruction of governmental administration.
Ten members of the NYPD were injured, including one member who was punched in the face and another who was struck with a glass bottle, police said.
“As the game progressed and then following the game, the crowds became increasingly destructive, and there were many incidents of incredibly reckless and dangerous behavior,” the NYPD said.
The crowds in Manhattan were estimated to have grown to tens of thousands of people as the chaos escalated, according to the NYPD.
Some "unruly fans" took over streets, failed to disperse and blocked traffic for several hours. Some lit off fireworks in large crowds, while others climbed on top of light poles, traffic lights, structures and scaffolding, police said.
Around 2 a.m., police said a 17-year-old boy was shot once in the left foot near 43rd Street and Broadway. He was taken to the hospital in stable condition, though police said an ambulance was initially unable to access 43rd Street “because the crowds completely took it over.”
Police said three persons of interest were taken into custody and a firearm was recovered at the scene.
Other violence included four slashings/stabbings and large physical fights breaking out, according to police.
Five school buses were lit on fire or destroyed with bats and people jumping on them, police said. The buses were being used to take people from Manhattan to MetLife Stadium in New Jersey for World Cup matches.
Other people shattered windows and windshields of five NYPD cars, hitting the vehicles with bats and jumping on them, the NYPD said.
Multiple other personal vehicles were also destroyed in the bedlam, police said.
Knicks fan recalls ‘huge stampede’ of police after gunshots in Times Square
A New York Knicks fan said there was a “huge stampede” of police and people after gunshots rang out in Times Square during rowdy celebrations for the Knicks championship win in the NBA Finals.
The fan, who went by Mayur, said he was nearby when he heard the gunfire.
“I heard what were unmistakably gunshots come from the direction of Times Square, and that was followed by a huge stampede of police, police cars and people,” he said.
“It looked like what you would imagine,” he continued. “It was a swarm of, like, hundreds of people, including cops, pedestrians and authorities.”
Mayur said he wasn’t surprised that the celebrations turned into “something stupid.”
“This is New York,” he said. “I mean, I knew something stupid was going to happen here no matter what.”
School bus engulfed in flames on 42nd Street as Knicks fans celebrate
A school bus was engulfed in flames as rowdy celebrations spread across Manhattan after the New York Knicks won the NBA championship on Saturday night.
Video captured New York City firefighters dousing the bus with water as the fire tore through the school bus. The flames were eventually extinguished.
Fans were earlier seen climbing into and atop school buses in Times Square and setting off flares.
It was unclear how the fire started, or whether any arrests were made. The school buses were being used to take fans from Manhattan to MetLife Stadium in New Jersey for World Cup games.
As firefighters worked to put out the fire, nearby Knicks fans were chanting and celebrating the team’s victory.
Celebrations, however, gave way to violence and chaos as rowdy fans clashed with police, smashed windshields, scaled scaffolding, light poles and a statue. Others tried to hitch a ride on a moving fire truck.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Knicks fans set off flares while standing on top of school bus
Celebrations of the New York Knicks’ championship win on Saturday night turned chaotic as fans set off flares while standing on top of a school bus in Manhattan.
Rowdy fans were seen climbing into and atop school buses in Times Square soon after the Knicks defeated the San Antonio Spurs in Game 5 of the NBA Finals.
Exuberant celebrations saw fans flocking to Times Square and running through the streets as fireworks boomed over Brooklyn and Central Park. Outside Madison Square Garden, fans sang the team's anthem: “Go New York, Go New York, Go!”
The city will officially celebrate the Knicks on Thursday with a parade and City Hall ceremony.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Teen shot in Times Square as Knicks championship celebrations turn chaotic
New York City's celebration of the Knicks' first NBA championship in more than 50 years was marred by gunfire in Times Square early Sunday morning that left a teenager hospitalized, according to the New York Police Department.
An NYPD spokesperson told Fox News Digital that officers responded to a shooting at approximately 2:01 a.m. near 42nd Street and Broadway. A 17-year-old male was shot once in the left foot and transported to Bellevue Hospital in stable condition. Police said three persons of interest were taken into custody and a firearm was recovered at the scene.
The shooting came hours after thousands of Knicks fans flooded streets across Manhattan to celebrate the franchise's first NBA title since 1973.The Knicks defeated the San Antonio Spurs 94-90 in Game 5 of the NBA Finals on Saturday in Texas.
In the aftermath of the historic victory, some individuals were seen causing damage in videos circulating on social media, while officers in riot gear and on horseback worked to manage large crowds that poured into the streets following the win.
One video appeared to show two people jumping onto the roof of an NYPD vehicle and smashing its windshield. Another appeared to show individuals climbing on and entering school buses near Times Square. A third video appeared to show NYPD officers tackling and arresting a Knicks fan as authorities attempted to disperse crowds.
Additional videos posted online appeared to show police making arrests amid the celebrations.
The NYPD told Fox News Digital it expects to provide an update on the number of arrests later Sunday.
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