Parking Spot Dispute Leads To Murder Indictment Of Queens Man: DA

QUEENS — A Queens man was indicted on attempted murder charges for allegedly nearly stabbing another man to death after a parking spot dispute, Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced on Friday.

On the evening of May 23, around 5:00 p.m., a 49-year-old man, who the NY Post identified as Gregory Williams, was looking for parking on Mentone Avenue in Laurelton, Queens, when he found a curbside spot blocked off with traffic cones, said the DA.

Williams got out of his car, removed the cones, and parked his vehicle in the spot, which was in front of Anthony Thomas’ house. The 58-year-old homeowner came out of his house and started to curse at Williams, who refused to move from the parking spot, said the DA.

“I need two spots, one for mine, one for my wife’s car!” screamed Thomas, according to witnesses who spoke with the NY Post but asked not to be named. The witnesses told the news site that Williams responded to Thomas, saying “You don’t own the f**king block!”

After the verbal dispute, the DA said that Thomas went back into his house, and Williams met up with friends across the street. According to DA Katz, Thomas came outside and yelled at Williams several more times, until Williams moved his car.

After Williams moved his car, Thomas was still angry and walked across the street to where he was standing, said the DA.

Witnesses told the NY Post that Thomas’ wife was in the doorway of their home, telling him to “bring your a** in the house,” to which Williams told Thomas “Go back with your b****-a** wife” — a comment which they said sent Thomas over the edge.

One neighbor told the NY Post that Williams made the comment about Thomas’ wife “at least three times and then picked up a rock!”

Thomas then allegedly pulled a kitchen knife out from a sock he was holding, and repeatedly stabbed Williams in the chest, stomach, and arm, said DA Katz.

Williams was taken to a nearby hospital with a collapsed lung, massive internal injuries, and other serious wounds, according to the charges cited by the DA. At the time Williams was listed in “critical condition,” according to the NY Post.

Police officers allegedly found the knife — which witnesses told the NY Post was a 9-inch kitchen knife — stained with blood in Thomas’ dishwasher, according to the DA.

In addition to a second degree murder charge, Thomas was also hit with assault and weapons charges — for which he was indicted on Friday.

Thomas is expected to return to court on June 28 and faces up to 25-years-to-life in prison if convicted.