A gunman fatally shot one man and wounded two others in a subway entrance near Penn Station, after he was seen arguing with them in a nearby McDonald's. Police say the shooting may have been drug related. NY1's Michael Herzenberg has the story.
The shots rang out at dawn near one of the busiest transit hubs in the nation. Top police brass joined the first responders rushing to the scene — concerned about the location, a block north of Penn Station — and the timing, the start of rush hour.
"It's just like wow, early Monday morning and to just to see people walking back and forth going to work," one commuter said.
Police say a 43-year-old man was shot in the head and killed on the stairs to the A, C, E subway station at 8th Avenue and 35th Street.
He was with two other men, also in their forties, who were shot as well.
The confrontation began around 6 a.m. in the McDonalds on 8th Avenue just south of 35th Street. The three victims are friends who apparently attended a drug treatment clinic nearby. They were having coffee and talking when a man walked in, exchanged words with them briefly, then left.
"Those individuals then walked out of the McDonalds and into the subway station behind us right now," said NYPD Chief of Detectives, Robert Boyce. "They were followed in by that same individuals heavy set male with a black hoodie where the shooting occurred directly at the bottom of the steps."
Police say that McDonalds has a history of problems. Residents say addicts hang out here scoring drugs and nodding out. It's just a half block from a methadone clinic.
"That's an active narcotics location," Chief Boyce said. "We made 52 arrests so far this year in front of and inside that McDonald's so that's why we believe our motive right now is narcotics. But that's preliminary about six hours into the investigation."
The victim, who was pronounced dead at the scene, was known to people in the area.
"He was a good guy," one said.
"Words can't express the heart that that man had," said another.
"Always good to his son, gave everything to his son," remembered a third.
Police say four shots were fired from a 9-millimeter.
They are now looking for him and two others who fled northbound on Eighth Avenue, possibly in a silver or dark colored sedan.
Anyone with information on the case should contact the Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS, or text CRIMES and then enter TIP577, or visit www.nypdcrimestoppers.com.