A McDonald’s assistant manager has been fatally stabbed at a Bronx restaurant, after asking an allegedly homeless man to leave the premises.
The incident took place on Monday, December 4, at approximately 4:27 a.m outside a McDonald’s facility located in Kingsbridge, a residential neighborhood from the western side of the Bronx, in New York City.
It had become an unpleasant, yet previously harmless custom for the popular fast food establishment to be frequented by vagrant people, who would often turn the eatery’s restroom into an unconventional haven.
However, on this occasion, a confrontation between one such unlikely guest and the restaurant’s staff escalated to such proportions, that it eventually proved deadly.
The restaurant’s manager, 28-year old Adam Garcia, would’ve normally finished his shift by 3 a.m., but had worked overtime in order to help a female employee reach home safe and sound.
The unwelcome customer had been having coffee and apple pie at a dining table, when he tried to go to the bathroom, and was prevented by Garcia, who instead asked the man to leave the place immediately.
According to witnesses, while attempting to drive the drifter out of the building, the executive had glimpsed a shiny object in his hands, but failed to realize that it was actually a knife.
Shortly afterwards, he was stabbed multiple times, sustaining numerous injuries to his chest, arms and neck. Soon after this vicious attack, which took place in the eatery’s parking lot, close to W 236th Street, on 5765 Broadway, the suspect managed to leave the scene of the crime.
Garcia barely made it back into the restaurant, due to severe blood loss triggered by his serious wounds.
The stabbing was immediately reported, and first responders quickly arrived at the location, transporting the critically injured worker to the Allen Pavilion of the New York Presbyterian Hospital.
However, due to the severity of the assault, Garcia was declared dead shortly afterwards, at around 5 a.m.
His family is now overcome with grief, especially since the recently appointed assistant manager had been the father of a 5-year old child, and had been so well-liked by everyone, because of his magnanimity, work ethics and generosity.
Maria Anemodouras, who runs the Broadway Laundromat, situated right next to the McDonald’s establishment has also deplored the attack, mentioning that the neighborhood had been known as peaceful and crime-free before, but now it seems violent acts are taking over the place, despite the close proximity of the 50th precinct police station house.
Currently, an investigation is under way in order to identify the killer and apprehend him. Based on footage captured by surveillance cameras, law enforcement has so far revealed that the person they are seeking is of Hispanic descent, and probably in his mid 30’s.
At the moment when the attack was committed, the perpetrator was dressed in blue jeans, and darkly-colored jacket and hoodie.
Anyone with relevant information regarding the identity of the suspect should immediately contact local police, or Crime Stoppers, in order to assist authorities in making an arrest as quickly as possible.
Image Source: NY1