New York Jets cornerback Kris Boyd was rushed to Bellevue Hospital in critical but stable condition early Sunday morning after being shot in the abdomen outside the Sei Less restaurant in Midtown Manhattan. Law enforcement sources say the violent shooting unfolded just after 2 a.m. during a confrontation that spiraled — not just with the gunman, but also with a journalist who claims he was attacked by players at the scene.
According to the reporter, who was there in his official capacity, Jets wide receiver Irvin Charles approached him, grabbed his phone, shoved him, and made repeated threats. The situation escalated when someone else reportedly snatched the phone from the journalist, flinging it to the ground and shattering it. The reporter said that while he was filming the chaos, Charles struck the phone out of his hand “without provocation,” sparking a physical confrontation. Witnesses and responding NYPD officers later intervened multiple times to separate the group and calm things down, but the reporter says he feared for his safety, describing the event as aggressive, chaotic, and frightening.
Meanwhile, Kris Boyd — who, sources confirm, is the individual shot — sustained two gunshot wounds to his abdomen. According to the NYPD, a shooter opened fire after a heated dispute and then fled the scene in a blue BMW X8 SUV. Some reports also mention a silver Mercedes-Maybach that left the area.
Paramedics rushed Boyd to Bellevue Hospital, where he remains in critical but stable condition. According to UPI, one of the bullets may be lodged near his lung. The Jets issued a terse statement: “We are aware of the situation involving Kris Boyd and will have no further comment at this time.”
Boyd, 29, signed with the Jets earlier this year but has been on injured reserve all season after undergoing shoulder surgery in August. He entered the league as a seventh-round pick of the Vikings in 2019 and has played for the Vikings, Cardinals, and Texans before joining New York.
Teammates and former colleagues rallied around him once news broke. Jets defensive end Jermaine Johnson posted on social media: “Everybody please send prayers to my brother and teammate Kris Boyd and his family!!! Lord please hold your healing hand over Kris … Guide every doctor, nurse, and surgeon who touches him.” Boyd’s longtime friend from his college days at the University of Texas, Ernest Quander, echoed that sentiment, saying, “He’s strong — a fighter. He’s been through tough times before. He’ll get through this.”
As of now, no arrests have been made, and the NYPD investigation into both the shooting and the reported assault on the reporter is ongoing. Authorities are reportedly following up on leads tied to the fleeing vehicles, but no names have been publicly released.
This is a story still unfolding — one that combines tragedy, violence, and serious questions about what exactly happened that early morning. I’ll keep watching for updates and let you know as more details emerge.
