By Leslie Albrecht, Sarah Tan and Tom Liddy
DNAinfo Reporters
MANHATTAN — Three young men were shot in front of an Upper West Side building Friday night that was the scene of a dramatic shooting and getaway attempt just months ago, authorities said.
Gunfire erupted outside the building, 175 W. 90th St., near Amsterdam Avenue, just before midnight, according to police and fire officials.
"I live on the 15th floor and we could smell the gunpowder," said Rita Callahan, who has been living in the building for three years.
"I heard a sound. It was unusual and my first thought was, 'Was that a gunshot?' I don’t think of myself as living in the middle of gang world. I’m very concerned that this happened on my corner."
Another resident, who did not want to be named, said that he heard five shots and then looked out his window and saw kids running.
One of the victims said, "I've been shot. I've been shot," and another said "I've been hit too," the man recalled.
Three men, described as 17-18 years old, were hit and rushed to St. Luke's Hospital with injuries that were not considered life-threatening.
It was not clear what sparked the gunfire.
The shooting left residents rattled.
"To me [the neighborhood is] safe. I walk to work every morning at 5:30," said Fatima Mate, 34, who has been living in the building for 15 years. "This is really crazy. I’m going to tell my husband to start looking for other places.”
In July, cops nabbed Preston Powell, 30, dangling inside a garbage chute inside the same building after he allegedly shot a man five times inside the elevator.
He was charged with attempted murder.
Police believe the incident was likely drug-related and found several bags of marijuana during a search of the premises.
Neither Powell nor the victim lived in the building.
