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“This was a needless attack on a man who was simply coming to the neighborhood to visit a friend,” DA Katz said.
By Forum Staff
A Laurelton man has been indicted by a borough grand jury for allegedly stabbing a motorist who moved orange cones that were used to reserve a public parking space in front of the defendant’s home in May, Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced Friday.
Anthony Thomas, 58, was arraigned Thursday afternoon on an indictment charging him with attempted murder in the second degree, assault in the first degree, and criminal possession of a weapon in the fourth degree. Thomas has been out on bail since June 9.
According to the charges, at approximately 5 p.m. on May 23, the victim drove onto Mentone Avenue and attempted to park his vehicle on the block. Thomas saw the 49-year-old man move the traffic cones that blocked off a portion of the street in front of his home. The victim was parking his vehicle when Thomas exited his home and began to curse at the driver. When the motorist failed to leave the parking spot, Thomas went back into his home.
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The attack took place on Mentone Avenue in Laurelton.
The victim then joined his friends across the street for an outdoor gathering. Thomas exited his home several times to scream at the man until the victim relented and moved his car. But, still angry, Thomas walked over to the victim, pulled a kitchen knife from a sock he was holding and allegedly repeatedly stabbed the man in the chest, abdomen, and arm.
According to the charges, the victim was rushed to Jamaica Hospital Medical Center with a collapsed lung, massive internal injuries, and other serious wounds. Responding police officers recovered the knife, still stained with blood, allegedly from Thomas’s dishwasher.
“No one owns a public parking spot even if it is in front of their home. The defendant in this case allegedly became irate when a driver moved the orange cones he’d placed on the public street and attempted to park in the spot. This was a needless attack on a man who was simply coming to the neighborhood to visit a friend,” Katz said. “The defendant is charged with very serious crimes for his alleged actions.”
Thomas faces up to 25 years in prison if convicted.
