Seven people were shot in New York City within four hours amid a surge of violence before Thanksgiving.

In a disturbing escalation of gun violence, seven individuals were shot in a span of just four hours on Wednesday evening across New York City, coinciding with the heightened tension often seen in the period leading up to Thanksgiving. Authorities reported that the violence began around 7:20 PM in downtown Brooklyn when gunfire erupted along a popular shopping strip at the intersection of Fulton and Jay Streets. Two 18-year-olds, a young man and woman, were struck in the legs and were subsequently transported to New York Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital, where their injuries are deemed non-life-threatening.

Witness accounts suggest that the shooter engaged in a verbal dispute with the victims before resorting to gunfire. In a separate incident approximately two hours later, at around 9:40 PM, two men were shot on Ryer Avenue in the Bronx. A 23-year-old sustained a bullet wound to his left foot while a 22-year-old was hit in the right thigh. Both were taken to St. Barnabas Hospital for treatment of non-critical injuries. The shooter fled the scene following the attack, which occurred near a basketball court.

The violence did not cease there. Shortly after, at approximately 11:15 PM, another incident unfolded in Astoria, Queens, where a 24-year-old man escaped serious injury during an attempted robbery. As he was approached by two masked men who displayed a firearm and demanded his belongings, a struggle ensued that resulted in one of the assailants firing a shot that grazed the victim’s head. The perpetrators subsequently fled the scene in a black Jeep Cherokee. The victim went to Mount Sinai-Queens hospital for evaluation and treatment.

Minutes later, two more victims were reported shot at the Yaya Deli and Grocery on Melrose Avenue in Melrose. A 22-year-old man was shot in the right shoulder while a 25-year-old woman suffered a gunshot wound to the chest. Both victims were transferred to Lincoln Hospital and are expected to survive their injuries. The motive behind this shooting remains unclear, and police are actively investigating the incidents.

Law enforcement agencies are now focused on reviewing surveillance footage from these crime scenes in an effort to identify suspects involved in the string of shootings. As of Thursday, no arrests have been made in connection with any of the attacks. This spike in gun violence comes as a stark contrast to the same day last year, which recorded only two shootings citywide. Despite this unsettling series of events, year-to-date statistics show a 23% decrease in shootings in New York City for 2025, with police reporting 644 incidents thus far, down from 837 at the same point last year.

Authorities are urging anyone with information about these shootings to come forward, emphasizing confidentiality for all tips submitted to NYPD Crime Stoppers. The recent surge in violence emphasizes ongoing challenges in public safety, particularly as the holiday season approaches, when tensions can be heightened.