Man Shoots, Kills Off-Duty EMT In New York

Erick "Eddie" Gonzalez, 25, died two hours later after he was blasted twice in the chest at the Easy Street Lounge, 36-18 Greenpoint Ave., in Sunnyside.

Cops last night were hunting a man identified only as "Anthony," who frequented the watering hole and was labeled a "hothead" by several patrons.

Witnesses said Gonzalez - a paramedic for the Metrocare, a private ambulance service - was at the bar at 8:20 a.m. when he and Anthony began to argue as they had many times before.

"They were arguing over stupid s- - -. They began pushing and knocked over a couple of bar stools and [Anthony] pulls out a gun," said one female bartender, who asked not to be identified.

The bar owner, who would only give his name as Sonny, told The Post:

"This fighting had been going on for a couple of months. They didn't have time for each other.

"They were having it out - it was no big deal. But then a gun was drawn."

Three shots were fired with two of them striking Gonzalez in the chest and the third ripping through the front door, witnesses said.

Kevin McDonald, the brother of one bar patron who was just a few feet away from the shooting, said the victim was "on the floor crawling around" after he was shot.

"He was screaming, 'I don't want to die!' " McDonald said.

Gonzalez was rushed to Elmhurst Hospital and later died.

The shooter, who fled moments after the gunfire, was described as black, 5-foot-7, 220 pounds and wearing black clothing.

Another patron at Easy Street said when Gonzalez and his killer first met "they were like drinking buddies. But then they would start to argue and it became like 'You stay at your end of the bar and I'll stay at my end.' "

Friends of Gonzalez, who had worked for the Fire Department until two years ago, said he was a friendly, outgoing man who enjoyed being a paramedic.

"He was a regular guy and he loved his job," said Julio Mizarazo, a four-year EMS veteran who had trained with the victim.

Cops last night were probing why Easy Street was open when the shooting occurred.

Bars may not serve alcohol between 4 a.m. and 12 p.m. on Sundays.