Yesterday morning, Eduardo Diaz, a 42-year-old Queens resident, was apprehended in connection with a shooting incident on the Upper West Side that severely wounded his ex-boss and catalyzed an intensive manhunt. According to ABC7NY, Diaz now faces charges that include attempted murder, assault causing injury risk of death, and criminal possession of a weapon.
The chain of events seemingly began with a confrontation at a computer repair shop near 68th Street and Columbus Avenue, where authorities believe Diaz, a disgruntled former employee, shot Boris Shapiro after he was fired. It is reported that Diaz had been working remotely before deciding to confront Shapiro at the shop. Shapiro, who was shot, is recovering and is expected to survive, as workers at the shop relayed to ABC7NY. In the wake of the shooting, Diaz fled into the subway system, leading to delays and the temporary shutdown of service as law enforcement officials tracked him down.
Diaz's capture occurred nearly 24 hours after the shooting, following an escape that had him using the subway tunnels. As reported by The New York Post, he avoided detection by hiding under a train. Detectives, after arresting Diaz, led him out of the 20th Precinct station house, at which point he kept his head down, avoiding questions and cameras alike.
The disturbance unfolded near Lincoln Business Machines Incorporated, where both Diaz and Shapiro had previously worked together. Shapiro, upon being contacted by The New York Post, expressed relief at Diaz's arrest and stated he was "nervous that he'd come back again." The victim recounted his ordeal to PIX 11, revealing how he had tried to call the police fearing further violence from Diaz, who he said had been fired "six months or a year ago."
Following the events, nearby neighbors, as well as business owners who knew Shapiro, voiced their distress and concern over the act of violence that had punctured their sense of security. Maya Shatsky, a resident, told The New York Post, "We're just shocked," and added, "Like something like that doesn't just happen outside of our doorstop, maybe in like Times Square, somewhere like that. But not at 69th and Columbus at 9:30, 9 a.m."
