Knocked over planter causes panic in Times Square

Times Square safety concerns

After multiple shootings of bystanders in the Times Square area, the Times Square Alliance says there are plans in place to increase safety.

NEW YORK - When crowds in Times Square thought that shots were fired it sent people scrambling for cover. The NYPD says that it turns out that no shots were fired in the popular tourist attraction.

In a tweet, the NYPD said that no shots had been fired in the area of West 46th Street and 7th Avenue.

"Initial investigation has showed no shots were fired," the NYPD's Manhattan South Precinct said in a tweet later Sunday evening. "A dispute between two individuals resulted in overturning of a planter and a police barricade. One individual has been arrested. Pedestrian and vehicular traffic has resumed."

The initial call of shots fired had come in at around 5:30 p.m.

Earlier this year, in June, a Marine visiting the city was struck in the back by a stray bullet in Times Square. The suspect, a 16-year-old boy, surrendered to police a few days later.

That came after Farrakhan Muhammad allegedly opened fire in Times Square in May, injuring three people including a 4-year-old girl. Muhammad was captured by police in Florida and extradited to New York, where he is facing multiple charges.

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio had promised to dramatically boost the number of police officers in Times Square after the shooting in June.

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