Central Market shooting — timeline, response and what we know
02 March 2026
Shortly after 08:14 this morning, gunfire was reported at Central Market, the busy shopping area around Main Avenue and 6th Street. Police and emergency medics arrived within minutes and transported multiple wounded people to nearby hospitals. By 09:05 officers had declared the scene contained, though searches and forensic work continued for some time afterward.
What happened
Calls about shots fired reached emergency services at 08:14. First responders moved quickly: officers set up a secure perimeter and paramedics established on-site triage before taking patients to hospital. Forensic teams combed the area for evidence once the immediate danger had passed.
Where it happened
The incident took place in the heart of Central Market, a high-footfall stretch around Main Avenue and 6th Street. Police cordoned off streets and shopfronts; businesses inside the cordon remain closed while investigators process the scene.
Who responded
Local police led the operation with support from emergency medical services and forensic units. Detectives are speaking with witnesses and have collected video footage from bystanders as part of the inquiry.
Investigation and motive
No motive has been confirmed. Investigators say there’s no verified connection to organised groups at this stage. Detectives are reviewing CCTV, carrying out door-to-door enquiries in nearby blocks and tracing the weapon’s origin as they piece together events.
Eyewitness accounts
“It was chaos — people were screaming. I saw someone fall and medics were there in minutes,” a witness told reporters. Authorities are cross-checking such statements with physical evidence and camera footage.
Official response and victim support
Police established a command post close to the scene. A spokesperson said officers are focused on stabilising victims and locating any suspects but declined to release casualty figures until families have been notified. Local hospitals set up temporary triage units to cope with incoming patients.
Impact on the city
Transit routes were altered and nearby subway entrances closed while police worked. Schools in the area were notified and asked to secure their premises. Several shops along Main Avenue and 6th Street remain closed during the investigation.
Key timeline
– 08:14 — Emergency calls report gunshots at Central Market. – 08:18 — First police units arrive and form a secure perimeter. – 08:26 — On-site triage begins; ambulances transport the first patients. – 08:50 — Forensic teams arrive and start collecting evidence. – 09:05 — Police declare the scene contained; searches continue.
What authorities are saying
From the command post, the police chief said: “We are working to establish the full sequence of events and will release verified information as soon as possible.” Anyone with footage or information has been urged to contact the central detective unit immediately.