The New York Police Department is on the lookout for a vigilante gunman who allegedly fired shots at a homeless man trying to rob a woman in Times Square.
The suspected homeless robber has been identified as Matthew Roesch, 49, and has been charged with attempted robbery.
Officials believe he was trying to ‘forcibly’ snatch a 40-year-old woman’s belongings last night.
At that moment, the suspected gunman intervened and fired shots at Roesch, according to officials.
The incident happened at 49th Street N, R and W in the Times Square subway station. The police department told DailyMail.com that no injuries had been reported.
The woman remains unidentified by the police and has not commented on the incident.
Surveillance images show the suspected gunman wearing a light green T-shirt, black shorts, white socks and black shoes with white soles
He was also seen carrying a khaki backpack and a reusable bright green B&H Photo Video tote bag
New York City Transit President Richard Davey explained that suspected robber Matthew Roesch is allegedly a ‘swiper,’ a person who swipes people through MetroCard turnstiles for tips and is known to the police
Surveillance images show the suspected gunman wearing a light green T-shirt, black shorts, white socks and black shoes with white soles.
He was also seen carrying a khaki backpack and a reusable bright green B&H Photo Video tote bag.
According to officials, Roesch was holding open an emergency exit gate near the turnstiles when he told the woman to hand over her money or that he would steal her purse.
The interaction caught the attention of the alleged gunmen who told Roesch to ‘leave her alone’. He then went on to shoot twice to stop the robbery.
Roesch, who has been staying at a homeless shelter at Bellevue Hospital in Kips Bay and was taken to a hospital for a checkup after the incident.
New York City Transit President Richard Davey explained that Roesch is allegedly a ‘swiper,’ a person who swipes people through MetroCard turnstiles for tips and is known to the police.
Roesch has been arrested once before for theft of service at the Times Square- West 42nd Station stop on September 18
Police have confirmed to DailyMail.com that no injuries were reported
He has been arrested once before for theft of service at the Times Square- West 42nd Station stop on September 18.
Davey told CBS: ‘We don’t tolerate this in New York City Transit, period. We have the purse snatcher-slash-swiper in custody. We’ll get this guy in custody as well. Thank goodness nobody was hurt in this instance.
‘I am just here to tell New Yorkers, our customers, that this type of behavior — misbehavior — will not be tolerated. We will continue to work closely with the Transit Police and bring, in this instance, these now two perpetrators to justice.’
He further said that after watching the surveillance video, he noticed that the gunmen was unusually calm.
‘It’s, I would say, unusual. He sort of looks very calm, pulls out a gun, fires two shots, calmly puts the gun back in a bag, and walks away.
‘I mean it is weird. But the point is that’s not what we need from anyone in the system,’ he said.
This comes a year after NYC Governor Kathy Hochul said the state passed a law preventing concealed carry in ‘sensitive’ locations, including parks, subways, places of worship, and playgrounds
This comes a year after NYC Governor Kathy Hochul said the state passed a law preventing concealed carry in ‘sensitive’ locations, including parks, subways, places of worship, and playgrounds.
According to the rule, licensed gun owners will be able to carry guns in Times Square only if they are passing through the area.
People will be able to carry guns in their cars while passing through Times Square if they make no stops and the weapons are unloaded and stored in locked containers.
Properly licensed business employees like security guards will also be able to carry guns within Times Square’s borders.
The law was a result of the Supreme Court’s decision to strike down New York State’s century-old restrictions on concealed carry laws in June 2022.