New York City Police Department (NYPD) Commissioner Dermot Shea told reporters that gunshots were heard about 4.55pm on Saturday at the intersection of 44th Street and 7th Avenue.

"We had police officers in the area at the time (who) responded," Shea said.

The three victims were a four-year-old girl and two women aged 23 and 43.

The victims were bystanders and got caught in an argument between two to four men, with at least one of them carrying a gun, Shea said.

The police posted a photo and video of a person of interest on social media.

The commissioner urged anyone with information regarding the individual to contact the police.

According to the police officer, the three victims did not seem to know each other.

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said on Twitter that the "innocent bystanders are in stable condition".

"The perpetrators of this senseless violence are being tracked down and the NYPD will bring them to justice," he said.

"The flood of illegal guns into our city must stop," he urged, referring to the rise in shootings and crime in the city in recent months.

"Due to a police investigation avoid 44 Street and 7th Avenue in Manhattan. Expect a police presence in Times Square and residual traffic delays in the surrounding area," the police warned on Twitter.

According to images captured on CCTV cameras on Times Square, the area was closed to vehicular and pedestrian traffic at 7pm, with several dozen police officials deployed on the street.

The images recorded by pedestrians and uploaded to social media of the minutes after the shooting show scenes of confusion and tension, with people running and asking what had happened.

Australian Associated Press