gun violence

Arrest Made in Stray Bullet Shooting of Tourist Near Times Square

The victim told police he went to the Mets-Phillies game in Philadelphia Tuesday night and had just gotten back to the city, according to a newspaper report; he was supposedly heading back to his hotel when he was hit

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A tourist from Kansas City was hit in the shoulder by a stray bullet near Times Square early Wednesday and a man was in custody hours later, police said.

Chris Ruby was crossing the street near West 38th Street and Eighth Avenue around 2:30 a.m. Wednesday, officials said. The 44-year-old tourist told police he went to the Mets-Phillies game in Philadelphia Tuesday night and had just gotten back to the city, according to the Daily News.

As he was heading back to his hotel, he saw a scuffle in a bike lane nearby, as three men started to fight. One fires a gun, missing the other two men involved, but striking Ruby in the shoulder.

He was taken to Bellevue Hospital and is expected to recover, police said. In talking with NBC New York over the phone, Ruby said he would be OK after a few hours in the hospital, and will be heading back to Kansas City soon.

Police confirmed Wednesday afternoon that a suspect who lives in midtown Manhattan had been arrested in the case. That man, Brannovan Martinez, was charged with assault, criminal use of a firearm and reckless endangerment.

It wasn't immediately clear if Martinez, who was seen being walked out of the stationhouse in a "Scarface" sweatshirt Wednesday evening, had an attorney. When asked why he did he fire the shot, he responded, "Non of your business."

Copyright NBC New York/Associated Press
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