Triple Homicide on Upper West Side
By Dan Rivoli
Posted by West Side Spirit on December 18, 2009 · 2 Comments
Three men were fatally shot by one gunman on the afternoon of Dec. 17.
The men—a grandfather, his son-in-law and his grandson—were killed inside their apartment on 492 Amsterdam Ave. between West 83rd and 84th streets, according to police.
The victims were Fernando Gonzales, his son-in-law Carlos Rodriguez, Sr. and his son Carlos Jr., according to reports.
A photo of Carlos Rodriguez, Jr., was placed on a bouquet of flowers left in front of the apartment where he was shot.
A fourth body, the alleged shooter Hector Quinones, was also found dead, apparently from falling out of a third-floor apartment window in the five-story walk up building.
Police suspect that he tried to flee on the fire escape. His gun was found in the apartment.
The 82-year-old Gonzales was found dead in the bathroom. Rodriguez and his son were shot in the bedroom.
The 49-year-old mother of the slain son, in his twenties, walked in on the shooting at 1:45 p.m. She sustained a head injury—possibly from being grazed by a bullet or hit with the butt of the gun—and was taken to a nearby hospital.
Police have yet to discover a motive but are looking into possible drug connections.
The scene was taped off into the late afternoon as school children and customers in nearby businesses crowded the sidewalks.
