NEW YORK CITY, NY – The usually vibrant East Harlem community grapples with grief after the tragic death of 44-year-old Vianel Garcia, a beloved salon owner, who was fatally injured in Riverside Park in Washington Heights on Sunday afternoon.
Garcia reportedly died after being pushed down a steep embankment by her son, 22-year-old Miguel Duval. Authorities confirmed that Duval was arrested and charged with second-degree murder mere hours following the incident.
Local residents and clients expressed shock and sorrow as they visited Vianel Beauty Salon on East 112th Street, which was closed and adorned with floral tributes.
“She was the best. The whole neighborhood loved her,” Naomi Roman, a regular customer at the salon, said while fighting back tears. Customers and friends remembered Garcia as a vibrant woman who ran her salon not just as a business but as a community hub, often welcoming guests with music and coffee. Norma Mendez, echoing the sentiment of disbelief and loss, remarked, “I didn’t believe it. She sacrificed a lot for her kids.”
The incident has left the local community stunned, mourning the loss of a woman described as a quintessential part of the neighborhood- a mother of four who dedicated her life to her family and her business.