Gangbangers marauded through Times Square and nearby streets last night, storming businesses and harrassing pedestrians

Gangbangers marauded through Times Square and nearby streets last night, storming businesses and harrassing pedestrians as three people were shot in possibly related violence. Hundreds of cops struggled to disperse the youths. Police made 54 arrests on a variety of charges, including disorderly conduct.One man was shot in the ankle on West 41st Street between Seventh and Eighth avenues. Early this morning two people were shot at 34th Street between Seventh and Eighth avenues. Their conditions were not immediately known. Twenty young men were seen fleeing the scene.

CHAOS: An injured cop is borne off on a stretcher in Times Square last night, as others tend to a man who was shot in the ankle during the Easter "Gang Initiation Day."

And a woman was hit by a bb pellet at West 51st Street and Seventh Avenue. Her wound was not life-threatening, authorities said. Police were trying to determine whether the three incidents were related to the disturbances. A cop trying to break up a rowdy group of youths outside the police substation at West 42nd Street was taken away on a stretcher after he sustained a knee injury. "This kind of nonsense [on Easter night] has been going on for the five years I've been here," said a security guard at a business on West 42nd Street, who asked not to be identified. "The police try to maintain the crowd, but while one side of the street is maintained, on the other side of the street, a fight breaks out." At least 30 people, including seven juveniles, were arrested by early this morning In past years, the NYPD and businesses have beefed up security in the area on Easter Sunday, which has become known in certain circles as "Gang Initiation Day." In previous years, the youths, many sporting their gangs' colors, gathered first at the Auto Show at the Javits Center and then made their way to Times Square. But this year, there was no gang activity at the show, and the youths went straight to Times Square. Cops were waiting, but had their hands full trying to stop them. "There's a lot of young kids outside in groups of 15 to 20 people, and police are running to catch them," said Mohammed Dar, who manages a restaurant on West 42nd Street. "Kids come in cursing at employees and we ask them to leave." An employee at another restaurant said, "You will see them get into little spats, but cops are right on top of them. They're doing a very good job. I feel as safe as I can be here." A worker at a newsstand said, "There's a lot of crazy people over here." Witnesses said police pushed the youths west on 42nd Street to Eighth Avenue, and then downtown to get them to disperse. Several businesses closed early once the trouble started.

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