A shooting on the subway platform at Harvard Square station in Boston on Sunday afternoon sent shockwaves through the campus and surrounding community, prompting Harvard University to issue a shelter-in-place alert.
According to the Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority Transit Police, a man fired four to five shots on the southbound Red Line platform around 2:15 p.m. Superintendent Richard Sullivan stated that the shots appeared to be aimed at a specific individual, though no injuries were reported. The suspect fled before police arrived.
Commuters recalled the frightening moment the shots rang out in one of Boston’s busiest areas. “Everyone thought it was firecrackers,” one witness told CBS Boston. “Then the train stops, and the conductor says, ‘Hold tight real quick.’ He walks through not knowing what’s going on.”
Another commuter added, “It was a horrifying experience. But that seems to be life now — you’ve got to be ready for anything, anywhere.”
Following the incident, Harvard issued an emergency alert advising students and staff to remain indoors as police searched the area. Red Line service was partially suspended, with passengers being redirected via shuttle buses during the investigation.
By late afternoon, the shelter-in-place order was lifted and the advisory was removed from Harvard’s website. Although no injuries occurred, the gunman remains at large and the investigation is ongoing.
The incident has renewed concerns about public safety and the growing frequency of gun violence in everyday spaces. With no arrests made, authorities continue to search for the suspect and work to determine a motive.
