'Horrifying': Harvard students rattled as subway shooting unfolds nearby

A gunman opened fire on a subway platform at Harvard Square station in Boston on Sunday afternoon, triggering panic among commuters and forcing Harvard University to issue a shelter-in-place alert for students and staff.

The Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority Transit Police confirmed that a man fired four to five shots on the southbound Red Line platform around 2.15pm. According to Superintendent Richard Sullivan, the gunfire appeared to target a specific individual, though no injuries were reported. The suspect fled the scene before officers arrived.

Eyewitnesses described the terrifying moment the shots rang out beneath one of the city's busiest university hubs. "Everyone's kind of convinced it's firecrackers," one commuter told CBS Boston. "And the train stops. The conductor's like, 'Guys, hold tight real quick.' He comes through, he doesn't know what's happening."

Another eyewitness shared the chilling uncertainty of the moment, saying, "I mean, it was kind of a horrifying experience. But I guess that is just more or less life now. Like, you gotta be, I guess, ready for that sort of stuff to happen anywhere at any time."

In the immediate aftermath, the university sent out an emergency message urging those on or near campus to take shelter indoors as police combed the area for the shooter. Authorities shut down part of the Red Line service and rerouted passengers via shuttle buses while they conducted their search.

By late Sunday afternoon, Harvard lifted the shelter-in-place alert and removed the advisory from its website. Despite the clear danger posed by the gunman’s actions, no injuries were confirmed and police continued their investigation into the identity and motive of the suspect.

The incident has raised concerns once again about public safety and gun violence in everyday settings. With no arrests announced, the city remains on alert as officials seek leads to identify and apprehend the shooter.