News 4's Shakti Denis talked to witnesses

A man has died after being shot on a midtown Manhattan subway platform Saturday afternoon, the NYPD confirmed. Detectives released photos that they believe show the person wanted in the killing, who remains on the loose.

The shooting happened around 12:21 p.m. at the subway station on West 53rd Street and 7th Avenue, which serves the B, D and E train lines.

"This was evidently a dispute between two individuals that ended tragically, and we have coordinated with the NYPD on the investigation from the earliest minutes -- especially to retrieve video from platform and train car cameras," MTA Chief Security Officer Michael Kemper said in a statement. Police confirmed later at a news conference that they do not believe the killing was a random act.

"My daughter said, 'Oh my God, there's a shooter!' And so people started hovering together, hovering, and she walked out," a tourist who identified herself as "Miller" told reporters at the scene. "She was trying to motion to the guy that was coming on the other subway that there is a live shooter."

"She said she looked right at the guy that had the weapon, and he looked right at her."

The NYPD says "an unidentified individual approached an unidentified male on the northbound E train platform... displayed a firearm and discharged it, striking the victim once in the chest." Authorities say the gunman took off on foot, traveling northbound on 7th Ave.

The name of the man killed has not been released.

The suspect "was last seen wearing a red tracksuit, a black vest and a black face mask, and carrying a backpack," police said.

The MTA's Kemper added, "It is fortunate nobody outside the fight was hurt... guns have no place in transit which is why we’ve strongly supported New York State's legal fight to make sure it's illegal to carry them in the subway system."

Anyone with information regarding this incident is urged to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477), or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). The public may also submit tips online at Crime Stoppers website or via X @NYPDTips.