Jets’ Kris Boyd Wounded in NYC Shooting Amid Late-Night Dispute
In a troubling incident early Sunday morning, New York Jets cornerback Kris Boyd became the victim of a shooting in Midtown Manhattan, according to multiple reports. The New York City Police Department responded to shots fired around 2 a.m. on West 38th Street, where they found a 29-year-old male suffering from a gunshot wound to the abdomen. While authorities have not officially identified Boyd as the victim, the New York Post was first to report that the NFL player was indeed the person injured in the incident. The victim was rushed to Bellevue Hospital and listed in critical condition as medical professionals worked to treat his wounds.
The shooting reportedly stemmed from a dispute that occurred outside Sei Less restaurant in Manhattan. According to law enforcement sources cited by the New York Post, the situation escalated when the suspected gunman fired multiple rounds during the confrontation. As of Sunday afternoon, no arrests had been made in connection with the shooting, and police indicated that the investigation remains active as they search for the perpetrator and attempt to understand the full circumstances surrounding the violent encounter. The Jets organization acknowledged the situation with a brief statement, saying: “We are aware of the situation involving Kris Boyd and will have no further comment at this time.”
Boyd’s NFL journey began when the Minnesota Vikings selected him in the seventh round of the 2019 NFL Draft. The cornerback spent his first four professional seasons with the Vikings before his career path led him to several different teams. After leaving Minnesota, Boyd joined the Arizona Cardinals in 2023, followed by a brief stint with the Houston Texans, before ultimately signing with the New York Jets in March of this year. While he has been with the Jets organization since spring, Boyd has not appeared in any regular-season games during the 2024 campaign, as his roster designation is currently listed as injured reserve, keeping him sidelined even before this unfortunate incident.
The timing of the shooting comes during a relatively quiet period for the Jets, who had played Thursday night against the New England Patriots and were not scheduled to play on Sunday. This gave players some downtime during the weekend, though unfortunately for Boyd, his time off took a dangerous and potentially life-threatening turn. The incident highlights the vulnerabilities that even professional athletes face during their personal time away from the structured environment of team activities, and raises questions about safety and security for players in high-profile positions who may find themselves in volatile situations during their off hours.
This shooting incident joins a concerning pattern of NFL players becoming involved in violent situations off the field, whether as victims or participants. The article’s reference to Antonio Brown’s recent legal troubles (pleading not guilty to attempted murder charges in Miami) in the original headline further contextualizes the ongoing challenges the league faces with player safety and conduct away from the game. While Boyd’s situation appears to position him as a victim rather than an instigator, it nonetheless adds to the narrative of NFL players being connected to violent incidents that extend beyond the controlled environment of professional football.
As Boyd receives medical care for his injuries, the broader implications of the incident will likely resonate throughout the Jets organization and the NFL community. Questions about player safety protocols, team support systems for players during their personal time, and the circumstances that led to Boyd being at that location during early morning hours will inevitably arise. Meanwhile, law enforcement will continue their investigation, seeking to identify and apprehend the shooter while working to uncover the full story behind what began as a dispute outside a Manhattan restaurant and escalated into a serious act of violence against a professional athlete.
