Man Stabbed Over Parking Spot Dispute

A man in Queens was nearly stabbed to death over a parking space that the attacker claimed as his own private spot, police said. Witnesses to the incident said that the man, charged with attempted murder, “exploded with rage” after the victim “disrespected” his wife.

During the incident which took place after 5 p.m. Sunday, Gregory Williams, 49, was visiting friends in Laurelton and was looking for a spot to park his car. He then moved a traffic cone blocking a spot outside the house of Anthony Thomas on Mentone Avenue.

Soon, Thomas, 58, came out of his house screaming, according to a witness cited by New York Post. “I need two spots, one for mine, one for my wife’s car!”

Following a brief argument with Williams, Thomas went inside his house and came out with a 9-inch butcher knife, witnesses said.

Neighbors said that though Williams moved his car after Thomas’ initial complaint, the two men continued arguing during which the victim hurled an insult towards Thomas’ wife, which set him off.

“Anthony grabbed his wrist and [Williams] tried to run,” said a witness of the incident. “He held his arm and started stabbing him. Stabbed him like six times and let him go. People were screaming.”

Thomas allegedly stabbed Williams seven times in the chest and abdomen, New York Post reported citing sources. Prior to the incident, the victim is said to have been drinking and smoking with some people across the street from Thomas’ home, the report said.

Neighbor Janie Staley, who witnessed the fight, told NY Daily News that Thomas “started moaning about the parking spot like he always does.”

“He doesn’t own the street. He puts like six cones. It used to be three, all of a sudden it’s six,” she said. The woman added that Thomas “was swinging him like a rag doll by his shirt and as he was swinging him he was stabbing him… All I heard was this girl screaming.”

Thomas was arrested and charged with attempted murder, two counts of assault, and weapon possession, police said Monday.

“In a matter of 15 minutes, these two men’s lives changed over a parking spot. Over a parking spot! Now he’s going to jail for attempted murder. How stupid is that?” said Staley.

Neighbors said Thomas did not resist when police came to arrest him. Williams remains in hospital in critical condition.

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