It was impossible to tell what had happened. Two women were lying, screaming, on the ground. The street was full of excited people. When the dust cleared we found that a man had been shot. His attacker had escaped in the confusion, NYC

Skip to main content
It was impossible to tell what had happened.  Two women were lying, screaming, on the ground.  The street was full of excited people.  When the dust cleared we found that a man had been shot.  His attacker had escaped in the confusion, NYC
It was impossible to tell what had happened. Two women were lying, screaming, on the ground. The street was full of excited people. When the dust cleared we found that a man had been shot. His attacker had escaped in the confusion, NYC
Artist/Maker (American, 1929 - 2006)
Date1978
MediumVintage gelatin silver print
DimensionsImage: 8 5/8 × 5 13/16 in. (21.9 × 14.8 cm) Sheet: 9 1/8 × 6 3/4 in. (23.2 × 17.1 cm)
Credit LineGift of Thomas J. Wilson and Jill M. Garling, P2016
Object number2023.12.151
Not on view

Additional Details

Markings Verso, upper left (label, printed black ink): “MAG00100707 / 011”
Verso, upper center (typed, blue ink): “`New York’s 'Ninth Precinct Police Station' the home of Kojak. March 79 / The 9th Precinct runs from 14th Street down Houston and Broadway to the East River, the area is an ugly and terrifying place which is the home of / the terrorists of the Puerto Rican F.A.L.N., the Black Liberation Army, / and HQ of NY’s Hell’s Angels. It is the worst block in the city, with its / stinking tenements with no heat, burnt out buildings, drunken derelicts / and junkies, muggers and rapists. You would not want to be in the 9th Pre- / cinct after dark if you could help it. To TV viewers around the world, / Kojak has brought them the realities of crime in the big cities, also / this police station where Kojak is filmed. Psycho stabbers roam the / dark streets and since 1967 over 3,000 policemen have been killed in / America in the performance of their duties, and not one perpetrator has / gone to the electric chair. In NY alone there are over 2,000 homicides / a year and some cops feel it’s time to return to vigilantes and / frontier justice. / (NY Times Magazine 21 January 1979) -Photos Leonard Freed/MAGNUM”
Verso, lower left (stamp, blue ink): [at a diagonal] “Ausschnitt siehe Schema” [translation: “Detail see Diagram”
Verso, lower center (stamp, black ink): [sideways] “1116 Nr. 25 / 102/B / ____ Blaukopien” [translation: “blue copies”]
Verso, lower right (stamp, black ink): “VINTAGE PRINT”
Verso, lower right (stamp, black ink): “© Leonard Freed-Magnum”
Verso, lower center (typed, blue ink): “Photo.22”
Verso, lower center (typed, blue ink): “(78.9.55/10) a distraught woman and her son sprawled at the feet of / a policeman, during a street firing incident.”
Verso, lower center (yellow paper label residue): no text
Published References Illustrated: Leonard Freed: Police Work, pl. 52
Signature Verso, lower right (pencil): “leonard freed”
Inscribed Verso, upper left corner (black marker): "NYC 2.6.1"
Verso, upper left edge (pencil): [sideways] "ille' TV 25 / 22/A"
Verso, lower left corner (pencil): "LFPW-052.05"
Verso, upper left edge (pencil): "7500-"
Verso, center (pencil): "1978 NEW YORK CITY. USA."
Verso, lower right edge (pencil): [sideways] “Legende 1X27signes”