MIDTOWN — Four days after an argument over drug turf escalated into a shooting that left one man dead and two others injured during the morning rush, many who work in the neighborhood were exasperated that nothing had been done sooner to curb the open drug use and dealing inside and around the nearby McDonald's.
"This corner's a challenge, it's [always] been a challenge," said Yolanda, who works a block away and declined to give her name.
The McDonald's at 490 Eighth Ave. is a frequent hang out for patients of nearby methadone clinics, and was the subject of a July profile by the New York Times, that cited open consumption of alcohol and prescription pills and bathroom drug deals.
The article also cited two stabbings that had happened nearby.
"I'm not surprised, said Jamal Clark, 26, who works at Penn Plaza across the street. "It's a sketchy McDonald's, I try to avoid it every time I walk by."
In the wake of the shooting, police had beefed up their presence at the McDonald's at 490 Eighth Ave. with officers stationed inside the restaurant and a van parked out front.
The franchise owner Linda Dunham agreed to meet with community members next week to address the pressing safety concerns.
The fatal shooting happened Monday morning just before 6 a.m., when an argument that began inside the franchise over drug turf, escalated down the block, according to police.
Angel Quiñones, 43, was shot in the neck and pronounced dead at the scene.
Investigators believe that Quiñones and the two other men who were shot, William Lamboy, 45, and Ed Torres, 48, all frequented a nearby methadone clinic and sold drugs around the McDonald's, according to sources.
On Thursday morning, police took Vincent Arcona, 27, into custody, who they say was with the shooter at the time of the murder, according to sources. Authorities are still looking for Francisco Alsina, 23, the suspected gunman, as well as a third man who all fled the scene together in a silver Mercedes, sources said.
Because of patient confidentiality, a spokesman for the West Midtown Medical Group at 311 W. 35th St. wouldn't confirm that they went to the clinic, though he did say, that, "despite everything...the patients that were involved were victims."
"In the 20 years we've been here this is the first shooting incident," said Samuel Ramsey, the spokesman for the clinic.
Those who knew Quiñones had built him a shrine at the corner with colorful bodega candles and messages scrawled in permanent marker.
A woman named Elizabeth, who declined to give her last name, confirmed that she and Quiñones had both attended the West Midtown Medical Group, and said that besides the nickname "Memo" people also called him "Mellow", for his tranquil demeanor.
"He was a good guy, despite whatever he did, whatever he didn't do," said Elizabeth, 45, who lives in Far Rockaway. "Someone is gone, someone's dad is gone, someone's son is gone, someone's brother is gone."
