Man Shot In Quarrel Over Parking Space In The Bronx
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- A man's search for a parking space ended with a bullet in his leg in the Bronx this past weekend.
The man who was shot spoke to CBS2's Ali Bauman from his hospital bed Monday.
A place to park can be a hot commodity in New York City, and around 9 p.m. Sunday, a space on Marcy Place and Walton Avenue in the Mount Eden section of the Bronx landed Jose Quinones in the hospital with a bullet in his knee.
"It's crazy -- all for a parking spot," Quinones said.
Quinones said he was trying to pull into a spot another driver had just pulled out of, but some men were standing there and holding it for a friend. Once the friend came back with the car, he tried to pull into the same spot – but Quinones was already halfway in.
"So I was already there, He can't really park the car because half of the car stayed out, because I'm almost parked," Quinones said.
Quinones said he got out of the car and started quarreling with the driver and two men standing there.
"I told him: 'No, I've been here over an hour. That's not right. This is public parking. I'm going to park here,'" Quinones said.
That was when he recalled a fourth man coming out of nowhere, spewing threats and armed with a gun.
"He just pulled out a gun, went like this shot me, and started running," Quinones said.
Police described the suspect as about 5 feet 4 inches tall, in his mid- to late 20s, and last seen in a dark hoodie and Army jacket.
"That's every day -- you're waiting to park," Quinones said.
Neighbors lament the parking on the residential block, and say even though resorting to violence is inexcusable, it is easy to lose your temper over a lost spot.
"It's been like a little -- almost half an hour since I've been looking," said Rosa Pollot, who was looking for a parking spot on Monday.
Doctors had to surgically remove parts of the bullet from Quinones' knee. They told him he will be able to walk again.
Quinones believes the car trying to pull in was a Honda Accord. Police could not confirm if any car was recovered from the scene.
