On a mild spring evening in Greenwich Village, the lively atmosphere was shattered by an eruption of violence that began with the tragic death of Alfredo Romero, a 33-year-old Hispanic man. On March 14, 2007, Romero was working as a bartender at a pizzeria when a man, later identified as 42-year-old David Garvin, entered the establishment. Garvin, disguised with a fake beard, asked for a menu before he suddenly opened fire, shooting Romero multiple times in the back.
The motive for this brutal act was believed to be rooted in Garvin's anger over being repeatedly ejected from the pizzeria and the recent firing of a friend who was also an employee there.
Following the initial shooting, Garvin fled the pizzeria, initiating a chaotic and deadly chase through the bustling streets of the neighborhood. Two unarmed auxiliary police officers, Nicholas Pekearo, 28, and Eugene Marshalik, 19, courageously pursued Garvin. They confronted him and managed to make him drop a bag he was carrying, which was later discovered to contain another handgun and around 100 rounds of ammunition. Despite their efforts, Garvin continued to flee and opened fire on the volunteer officers, fatally wounding both of them.
The rampage continued as Garvin ran through the streets, firing indiscriminately at times, sending pedestrians scrambling for cover in nearby shops and restaurants. The chase came to a dramatic end when several plainclothes police officers intercepted Garvin. They ordered him to drop his weapon, but he refused and began shooting at them. The officers returned fire, and in the ensuing shootout, David Garvin was shot and killed at the scene. The violent episode concluded with four lives lost, including the initial victim, Alfredo Romero, the two heroic auxiliary officers, and the gunman himself. Investigations into Garvin's background revealed a man who had been exhibiting increasing paranoia in the years leading up to the deadly attack. Since the sole suspect was killed, no arrests were made in connection with the deaths of Alfredo Romero, Nicholas Pekearo, and Eugene Marshalik.
