3 in custody, including 1 charged, after food cart worker shot after fight in Times Square
21-year-old Emanuel Charles has been charged with attempted murder in the second degree, and other charges
TIMES SQUARE, Manhattan (WABC) -- A food cart worker was shot in the arm during a fight with a group of young people in Times Square early Wednesday morning.
The 29-year-old victim was shot in his right arm at Seventh Avenue and West 47th Street just before 5 a.m.
Video shared with Eyewitness News captured the brawl between a group of youngsters and a food vendor moments before he was shot.
He was taken to Bellevue Hospital where he is expected to recover.
Police say the dispute started over stolen food from a Halal stand. Following a verbal altercation, the group left but one of the individuals turned and fired multiple shots at the worker.
Three people were taken into police custody after being caught in a nearby subway station and officials believe one of those suspects may be the shooter.
So far, 21-year-old Emanuel Charles has been charged with attempted murder in the second degree, assault in the first and second degree, reckless endangerment in the first degree, criminal possession of a weapon in the fourth degree and criminal trespass in the third degree.
Charles could be heard saying that the shooting was "self defense" while being led out of the precinct and into a vehicle on Wednesday night.
Police say any violence in an area so heavily trafficked is concerning.
"There are tourists there 24 hours, so it is a concern," NYPD Chief of Department John Chell said. "We couldn't prevent it. We would like to, but we made a quick apprehension."
Vendors couldn't work for much of the day as detectives looked for video and clues.
Despite the arrests made in the case, for those who make their livelihood on the street, they can't help but wonder who is brazen enough to pull out a gun next.
"It's not safe like it used to be, it's not safe in the street," said the victim's boss Mohammad Fathi. "We spend 12 hours standing on our legs, on the street, to make our living. We don't fight. We don't need nothing from nobody. All we need is just a good life."
Officers are looking for more suspects as the group was estimated to be more than 10 people.
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