CD Sellers Return To Times Square After Shootout

Less than a month after a CD-seller was shot and killed when he opened fire on police, street musicians have returned to Times Square to sell their wares — and scam tourists, according to the Post. On Dec. 10, rapper Raymond "Ready" Martinez fired at a cop who had questioned him about conning tourists into buying his record by scribbling their names onto discs and demanding $10. Martinez was shot and killed in front of the Marriott after his stolen gun jammed because he was holding it sideways.

But in the days following the gunfight, "hip-hop hustlers" "continue to harass hapless passers-by," the tabloid reports. "It's scary out here, because you don't know which ones are actually artists and which ones are just trying to shake people down with their hustle," said tour-bus worker Edgar Dell. Police say they are focusing on the area and have arrested six CD hawkers for "aggressive solicitation" since the shooting. But some CD sellers have complained that police have been infringing on their rights. "They're treating everyone like we're all one person," said Kawan "King Tuck" Tucker. "I don't understand what we're doing wrong."

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By Ben Muessig in News on December 28, 2009 2:53 PM

Comments [rss]

theLtrain

Who cares if tourists are being hustled?

Robbing someone is another story but how is it the NYPDs problem if some idiot buys a guys cd because he tells you that you should?

EricRoberts

And the guys aren't just telling them but doing it in an aggressive and threatening manner. Add to the crime that they then shot at police and their threatening manner is more chilling.

Besides that, tourists are incredibly important to the local economy. I care that they have a good time and don't get scammed.

NewHCE

Quality of life crimes. Yes, they are important.

Dude69

Hip hop homeboyz scamming clueless midwestern tourists and Eurotrash, it's so hard to take side!

NannyState

Remember yo, shoot the gun sideways like in the movies.

bobchadwick

I can't find the post now, but I swear I read on Gothamist that the gun didn't really jam from being held sideways, but from under-filled ammunition or something like that.

Guest

http://imgur.com/KwoXx.jpg

homeopt

Hootie hooo !!!! Nows you cain't even spells the N-words ! Dems whites and Asians dat be ownin da site likes to keeps the racial hatreds all to they selfs. Uhmm huh !

Sommelier

Such inspired writing! Is your family proud of you?

hotstepper

"It's scary out here, because you don't know which ones are actually artists and which ones are just trying to shake people down with their hustle"

which ones are artists?! there's an easy answer for that, it's the number right before 1.

thefacts

They need a shyster like Robert Lederman to convince the knee-jerks and the NY Times that it is First Amendment Protected Free Speech, that they contribute to the arts in the City, and they will get a free pass.