Who is Samuel Poulin? Newly-wed Marine injured by stray bullet in Times Square shooting
NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: A tourist from upstate New York was injured in the latest incident of gun violence at Times Square. Samuel Poulin, a 21-year-old visitor, was hit in the back by a stray bullet after gunfire broke out after a reported dispute between two CD vendors.
The incident occurred merely feet away from where a 4-year-old was one of the injured in a May 8 shooting. The shooter was later identified as Farrakhan Muhammad, a CD vendor. Weeks later, Christine Hammontree from Maine was kidnapped from Times Square. The location has proven to be a major hotspot for crime in 2021, as the NYPD struggles to deal with a massive surge in crime, especially gun violence.
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So far, no arrests have been made in connection to the Poulin shooting. He reportedly suffered a non-life-threatening injury and is being treated at Bellevue Hospital. The shooting occurred on Broadway near W 45th Street, outside the Minskoff Theatre, near the New York Marriott Marquis Hotel.
Who is Samuel Poulin?
The 21-year-old is reportedly a Marine, who "recently graduated" and was commissioned into the Marine Corps. According to his Facebook page, Poulin is from Northville, New York. His profile says he joined The Citadel, a military college in South Carolina in 2018. Photos show he graduated in May 2021, as a Second Lieutenant. Later that month, he married Jackie Jensen, who also graduated from The Citadel. Little else is known about Poulin, with his Facebook not revealing further details.
Poulin and his wife were walking in Times Square on May 27, when the shooting occurred. According to the police, Poulin was not the target, he was hit by a stray bullet. The New York Daily News reported that the bullet was discharged after a fight broke out between two vendors or street performers. According to ABC7, "a group of 5-6 CD vendors were arguing under when one pulled out a gun and fired a shot."
That bullet hit Poulin in the back but reportedly did not pierce through his body. Police immediately sealed off the area, while Poulin was taken to the hospital. Footage from the scene shows Poulin being taken by a stretcher, while he appears to be alert and talking to paramedics. Poulin's wife confirmed he was hit in an interview with The New York Daily News, and that he was still in the hospital at the time of reporting.
No one else was injured, but the police are yet to make any arrests. Poulin is expected to survive, with his injuries described as "non-life-threatening". We will update you when we know more about the incident, including when arrests are made.
An April 2021 NYPD report found that crime was up 30.4% as compared to 2020, with the biggest culprit being shootings. Gun violence has skyrocketed 166% from 2020. Despite promises from the government, little action has yet been taken to control the surge in gun violence.