Inside needle-strewn block where Michael K Williams bought drugs that killed him as locals reveal area’s bloody history
MICHAEL K Williams bought fentanyl-laced heroin, resulting in his death back in September.
Now, The Sun has an inside look at the neighborhood where the actor bought the drugs that killed him.
The needle-covered block of Havemeyer Street in Brooklyn, New York is where Williams was caught on surveillance footage before his death.
The street is located in the neighborhood of Williamsburg, an area with a history of crime, gang activity and illegal drug use.
“Back then it was no good. A lot of people were bad. Now it’s better,” said a bodega owner, who wished not to be named. He has lived in the neighborhood for 36 years.
The news comes as:
- Inside Michael K Williams’ last hours before overdose death
- Star seen buying fentanyl-laced heroin that killed him in shock vid
- Fentanyl becomes ‘leading cause of death for Americans aged 18 to 45’
- Actor's cause of death revealed to be accidental overdose
- Rise of fentanyl deaths killing celebrities like Williams
“What happened there [outside the store] happens out there.”
Another man, Ray Perez, has lived in Williamsburg since he was 5. He said the neighborhood has been getting better “slowly but surely.”
Perez explained that there have been a few new buildings that have popped up in the neighborhood, including an Apple store. He hopes the new developments will bring revenue.
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“Back in the day there used to be a crack den at the end of the street,” Perez told The Sun. “There were so many guns and drugs. Three of my friends were gunned down over a drug deal.
“You wouldn’t be able to do a report just a couple of years ago. There are still a lot of drugs and you can’t get rid of them. The drugs still haunt Williamsburg.”
Four men have been arrested in connection to the Williams’ overdose.
One of the four, called Irvin Cartagena otherwise known as Green Eyes, was charged on Wednesday with distributing the fentanyl-laced heroin that allegedly killed .
Alleged co-conspirators Hector Robles, aka Oreja, Luis Cruz, aka Mostro, and Carlos Macci, aka Carlito, were charged as members of the fentanyl and heroin conspiracy.
Cartagena was arrested in on Tuesday and is set to appear in court there on Thursday.
The drugs still haunt Williamsburg.
Local resident
The NYC Chief Medical Examiner confirmed back in September that the beloved The Wire actor passed away on September 6 in his Brooklyn penthouse from a lethal mixture of drugs.
The official cause of death was an "acute intoxication by the combined effects of fentanyl, p-fluorofentanyl, heroin and cocaine."
In addition, the medical examiners told The Sun that the star's death was ruled "accidental."
At the time of death, police said drug paraphernalia was found at the scene.
The Department of Justice also released shocking photographs allegedly showing Cartagena giving Williams the drugs.
Despite knowing that Williams died after being sold these drugs, the DOJ said that the quartet continued to sell fentanyl-laced heroin "in broad daylight, amidst residential apartment buildings, in Brooklyn and Manhattan."
STAR SPOKE ABOUT DRUG BATTLE
Michael had been promoting a movie about a drug-treatment center in LA called Body Brokers when he opened up about his struggles.
Speaking of his own drug use and seeking help, he added: "Drugs and alcohol are not the problems, they’re merely symptoms of the problem.
"And once those things go away, the real work begins. Those are the things that need to be addressed.
"Those are the reasons we got high in the first place, and our inability to deal with life on life’s terms."
The beloved actor also opened up about his struggles with addiction, stemming from when The Wire ended.
He continued: "So for me when The Wire was coming to an end, I had no legs to stand out. I had to do the work on myself and quiet the inner critic in my head.
"I went from being a shy dark-skinned kid in the hood who was corny to all of a sudden everybody be like ‘Oh I love you I love you!’
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"Only it wasn’t me, they were yelling ‘Omar!’ And that was the beginning of me losing myself, of losing my identity in my work."
Michael concluded: "And that came back to haunt me drastically towards the end because I was forced to go back and look in the mirror.”
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