By Gabriela Resto-Montero
DNAinfo Reporter/Producer
EAST HARLEM — Guardian Angels are watching over East Harlem.
The volunteer community safety group joined in the search for witnesses to the murder of Adan Gonzalez, a medical technician at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital, who was beloved by local residents.
Gonzalez, 28, was found stabbed to death at 115th Street and Second Avenue on Feb. 6 as he made his way home from his favorite nightspot, Orbit Bar.
After grieving for Gonzalez, the community swiftly moved to catch his killer, holding a rally and pressuring the NYPD to make his case a priority.
The NYPD released the photo of a person of interest in the case last week.
In response, the Angels will join Gonzalez's friends and neighbors Saturday to pass out flyers with the man's picture in hopes that someone will step forward to identify him.
"The NYPD, they always do a great job," said Benjamin Garcia, a patrol leader for the East Harlem Guardian Angels. "With the community working together, the perpetrator will be caught."
Curtis Sliwa founded the Guardian Angels in 1978 as a way to keep the peace in troubled neighborhoods through community policing. Garcia, a 24-year volunteer with the Angels, is a native of East Harlem and grew up on the streets he now patrols.
"I had a choice of joining the Guardian Angels or joining a gang," he said.
As leader of the patrols, Garcia is often mistaken for Sliwa by supporters, but it doesn't seem to bother him.
"We patrol the streets of East Harlem to make sure everyone is secure and safe," he said.
Friends of Gonzalez, who celebrated with him at his favorite hangout, said that residents feel skittish about staying out late after his murder.
"It's been bad for the neighborhood, people have been scared to walk out at night," said Carlos Flores, a friend of Gonzalez. "People are on a buddy system."
Although police increased their presence on the streets right after the murder, the number of patrols dropped off in recent weeks, Flores said.
"What I haven't heard is what worries me," said Clark Pena, another friend of Gonzalez, and community activist. "They're feeling the pressure is off."
