NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) â Police are now searching for the gunman after two men were shot onboard a subway train in Harlem.
It happened just after midnight Saturday morning on the 4 train.
Subway service at the 125th Street subway station near Lexington Avenue was disrupted for hours Saturday morning as police processed the crime scene inside.
Commuters, forced to take a detour, were stunned to hear the reason why.
âItâs crazy to believe now. You know, itâs crazy,â one commuter said.
Police say a group of men were fighting on a southbound 4 train around 12:15 a.m. when the suspect pulled out a gun and shot a 22-year-old man in the torso. A 21-year-old man was also struck in the right leg and both arms.
Both were rushed to Harlem Hospital in stable condition.
Police say itâs unclear whether the men knew each other before the shooting.
Police are searching for two men in connection to a shooting on a subway in Harlem on Dec. 4, 2021. (Credit: NYPD Crime Stoppers)
Police have released video of two men wanted in connection to the shooting.
âItâs crazy. You get on the train now, you donât know if youâre gonna get stabbed or if something like this is going to happen, like someone unfortunately going to get shot. Of course you think about it now,â said Bronx resident Jorge Morena.
âItâs like damn, once again, somebody that got hurt in the train station,â one man said.
âItâs heartbreaking. Itâs unnecessary,â commuter Joy Awtry said. âI think itâs really horrible whatâs happening right now in the city as far as crime and gun violence. Iâm hoping the new mayor will do something about it because itâs really not safe.â
Many riders say they have no other alternative to get to work, especially at night. Many have been pleading to the city for months asking for more patrols.
âWe take the train every every day, like twice a day, three times a day. And this is this is unsecure for us because I mean, we need more cops on the on the subway,â one commuter said.
Officers say itâs not clear which direction the suspect ran.
Police say both shooting victims have been uncooperative but have told officers they are related to one another.
Meanwhile, in a statement responding to the shooting, the MTA said, âThere are cameras in every station so those who prey on subway riders can expect to be arrested and face justice. Thatâs one reason serious crimes are down overall this month at a 25 year-low.â
The MTA says itâs also asked the NYPD to add visible officers on trains and platforms.
© Provided by CBS New York2 Shot Aboard Subway Train In Harlem; Suspect At Large
Police are searching for two men in connection to a shooting on a subway in Harlem on Dec. 4, 2021. (Credit: NYPD Crime Stoppers)
Still, many commuters told CBS2âs Kiran Dhillon they want more cops, cameras and community outreach in the system.
âIf there were more cameras, a lot of people would think twice before they did anything illegal down there,â one person said.
âDefinitely more outreach. The people here, they really need help. A lot of help. Thereâs a lot of drugs, thereâs a lot going on here,â community outreach worker Jean Louis said.
âI donât take the train no more because there ainât enough police. I catch the bus,â another person said.
Anyone with any information is asked to call the NYPDâs Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477), or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). You can also submit a tip via their website or via DM on Twitter, @NYPDTips. All calls are kept confidential.
CBS2âs Kiran Dhillon contributed to this report, which first appeared on Dec. 4.