A 42-year-old man from Queens, Eduardo Diaz, was arrested on Friday after a dramatic shooting in broad daylight on Manhattan’s Upper West Side. The incident happened around 9 a.m. near 68th Street and Columbus Avenue, sending shockwaves through the area and even disrupting subway services as the suspect fled into a nearby station.
The shooting stemmed from a heated argument between two men who worked together at Lincoln Business Machines, a computer sales and repair shop on 68th Street. According to police, the argument escalated, and one of the men, Eduardo Diaz, chased his coworker outside and shot him. The victim, a 47-year-old man, was hit in the leg and shoulder but was rushed to the hospital and is in stable condition.
The chaos didn’t end there. After the shooting, Diaz ran into the 72nd Street subway station, prompting a massive police response. Power to the station was cut off to prevent anyone from getting hurt by live tracks or moving trains as officers searched for him.
Subway riders were caught in the middle of the chaos. Many were told to take cover on the floors of their subway cars, unsure of what was happening. Trains were delayed, and some passengers were stranded for over an hour as the police combed through the area. Service on the C train was suspended temporarily, causing a ripple effect of delays across the subway system.
One southbound C train between 81st and 72nd Streets became a scene of high tension. Passengers crouched on the floor while police officers shone flashlights into the cars, searching for the gunman. Eventually, special operations officers evacuated the train, guiding scared and emotional passengers onto the tracks and then up to safety above ground.
At street level, the aftermath of the shooting was just as unsettling. Near Columbus Avenue and 69th Street, pedestrians gathered in shock. Some were crying, making frantic phone calls as emergency vehicles flooded the scene. The injured man lay on the sidewalk, alert but clearly shaken, while first responders attended to him.
Nearby businesses also felt the impact of the shooting. Workers at a Joe Coffee shop across the street heard the gunfire and immediately sought shelter along with customers. “It was terrifying,” said Arielle Schmid, one of the baristas. She and others hid behind the counter and in the bathroom as the chaos unfolded outside.
The shooting comes at a time when New Yorkers remain concerned about safety on the city’s subway system. While overall crime in the subways has been on the decline—major crimes dropped 26% in October compared to last year—the incident has reignited fears. Earlier this year, subway safety was in the spotlight after a slashing attack on an A train left a transit worker injured, prompting Governor Kathy Hochul to deploy state troopers and National Guard members to patrol the system.
As life slowly returned to normal after the shooting, shattered glass from a nearby bus shelter remained scattered on the sidewalk—a stark reminder of the morning’s chaos. Outside Lincoln Business Machines, where it all began, police officers and detectives continued their investigation.
Eduardo Diaz now faces charges of attempted murder, assault, and criminal possession of a weapon. As of Friday, he was awaiting arraignment. It’s unclear whether he has legal representation. Meanwhile, the city grapples with yet another troubling reminder of how quickly violence can erupt—and the lasting effects it leaves behind.
