Man Says He Was Shot By Pedestrians Angry Over U-Turn In Bedford-Stuyvesant
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- In what sounded like a pedestrian version of road rage, a passenger in a car said he was shot and wounded by angry pedestrians on a Brooklyn street.
As CBS2's Steve Langford reported, the victim said it was all over a rush to score a parking space.
"I'm hurting inside. That was stupidity over what happened," said Seymour Smith Sr.
The elder Smith is the father of Seymour Smith Jr., 33, who was shot in an apparent case of pedestrian rage just before 2 a.m. Saturday near the corner of Bedford and Gates avenues in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn.
"He's doing better," Smith Sr. said of his son.
Smith Jr. was shot and wounded after the car in which he was a passenger made a U-turn that seemed to anger two pedestrians.
"He was with his friend. His friend was parking the car. He made a U-turn to park, and while he was parking, he passed by two guys a little close, and the guy said. 'Are you guys trying to hit us?'" Smith Sr. said. "And at that point in time, they apologized."
CBS2 spoke to Seymour Smith Jr. briefly, off camera. He did not want his attackers to see him on TV.
Smith Jr. said he got out of the car, and one of the men shot him twice in the legs.
Shelley Kinsella heard the gunshots.
"So shocking, So shocking -- just over a U-turn, that's insane," she said.
Smith Jr. works for the Federal Emergency Management Administration, his father said. The younger Smith was just coming home after a long day on flood watch this past Friday, when the New York area was hit by endless rain.
The victim underwent surgery on his legs Sunday.
"It's going to take some time," Smith Sr. said, adding that his son would "hopefully" be able to walk again.
Meantime, the gunman and his accomplice remained at large late Monday.
"I hope they catch them," Smith Sr. said.