Date Published: 12/17/09

Man, son, grandson killed in New York; shooter falls to his death

A grandfather, his son and grandson were shot to death today in an Upper West Side apartment by a man who wounded the youngest victim’s mother before falling to his death from a fire escape, police said.

The shooter, Hector Quinones - who a neighbor says had been out of jail for two days, opened fire inside apartment 3S of 492 Amsterdam Ave., between W. 83rd and W. 84th streets, shattering the peace at 1:45 p.m.

A man in his 20s and his father were fatally wounded in a bedroom, while the younger victim’s grandfather was shot to death in a bathroom, police said.

All three men are named Carlos Rodriguez, according to a source close to the family and a police source.

The gunman dropped his weapon and tried to flee down a fire escape — but slipped and fell to his death, authorities said.

‘‘We don’t know the motive but we’re looking to see if it’s drug related,’’ a police source said.

‘‘The shooter fell to his death from the window while attempting to escape.‘’

Authorities said he was wearing rubber gloves. Sources said he was recently released from prison.

A .380 caliber hollow-point semiautomatic gun was found in the apartment. A bloody knife was also found there, but it's unclear what role it played in the massacre.

Gisela Rodriguez, 49, mom of the youngest victim, and her daughter came home after the shootings, to find the suspect still in the apartment.

The mother was pistol whipped but the daughter ran to the back bedroom, where two of the bodies were found. She escaped through a window and climbed to the roof.

The mother managed to escape the shooter. She was taken to St. Luke’s Roosevelt Hospital in stable condition.

‘‘She walked into this in progress but managed to escape with her life,’’ a police source said.

The shooter then ran into the kitchen and climbed onto a fire escape, where he slipped and fell to his death.

When the daughter got to the roof, she screamed, startling construction workers.

"My brother and father have been shot," she shrieked.