MIDTOWN, Manhattan — A fatal shooting inside a 7-Eleven near West 39th Street and Eighth Avenue disrupted a busy Midtown morning on Thursday, sending shockwaves through one of New York City’s most heavily trafficked corridors.

According to the NYPD, the incident occurred just before 10:30 a.m. Witnesses reported that two men entered the convenience store engaged in a heated argument. Within moments, one of the men pulled out a firearm and shot the other in the neck. The suspect fled the scene onto Eighth Avenue, while the victim collapsed inside the store. He was pronounced dead shortly thereafter.

By late morning, the area had been cordoned off with police tape. Detectives remained on site for hours, reviewing surveillance footage from the store and neighboring businesses in an effort to identify and locate the shooter. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner removed the victim’s body within the hour, as officers examined personal belongings recovered outside the store.

Local residents told Namketa Media that the victim was a familiar presence in the area, often seen holding the door open for customers in exchange for small tips. A friend, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the man was homeless and originally from the Bronx. Authorities believe he was in his 40s, though his identity has not yet been released pending family notification.

The store is located just steps from the Port Authority Bus Terminal and within walking distance of Times Square and the Theater District, an area that draws thousands of commuters and tourists daily. The shooting left many visibly shaken. Some visitors paused in disbelief; nearby workers expressed frustration and concern over ongoing public safety challenges in the neighborhood.

As a resident of Midtown, I am struck by the stark contrast this area often presents. On one side, the energy of Broadway and global tourism. On the other, visible hardship,  homelessness, untreated mental illness, and escalating tensions that too often go unaddressed. Thursday’s shooting unfolded in broad daylight, underscoring the vulnerability of public spaces even in the city’s most iconic districts.

Police say they have obtained clear images of the suspect from surveillance cameras. He is described as a man wearing a green puffer coat and dark pants. The investigation remains ongoing.

Anyone with information is urged to contact the NYPD Crime Stoppers hotline.