Two women waiting for a subway train in the Times Square station were rudely startled when they were pelted with water beads by a man on the opposite platform who fired at them with a lime green gel gun, police said Thursday.
One of victims, 40, was struck in the face. The other, 49, was hit in the upper body. Neither required medical attention.
The suspect — clad in a green jacket, beige hat and beige hoodie — got away and is being sought.
The incident happened just before 9:30 p.m. Wednesday.
Police said the victims were sitting on a bench on the northbound platform for the 1, 2 and 3 trains when the gunman, believed to be in his 20s, fired at them from the southbound platform.
Gel guns are considered toy guns and are often used by kids and teens as a prank, with social media postings challenging them to shoot unsuspecting victims, the impact splattering the targets with water.
But the NYPD in 2022 said these guns, also informally known as bead blasters, are propelled by a spring-loaded air pump, which makes the gun an air rifle, not a toy.
As such, anyone having such a gun will get a summons and police will seize the gun as evidence.
In this instance, the suspect would likely also face assault charges, as well, a police source said.
The NYPD warning followed several high-profile incidents, including the July 21, 2022, Bronx shooting death of an 18-year-old in possession of a gel gun. A city correction officer was charged with murder for fatally shooting the teen right after the youth struck him with a gel gun. But the officer, saying he had feared for his life upon being hit by the bead blaster, was cleared at trial in October 2024.
