Press Release
MAN SENTENCED TO 7 YEARS FOR STABBING OVER PARKING SPOT
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Anthony Thomas was sentenced today to seven years in prison for stabbing a man in a dispute over a parking spot. The victim parked his car in front of Thomas’ home in Laurelton after moving traffic cones Thomas had set up to reserve the space. After a friend of the victim moved the car in order to end the dispute over the space, Thomas nonetheless stabbed the victim multiple times in the chest, abdomen and arm.
District Attorney Katz said: “The defendant brutally attacked a man with a knife over a parking spot. No one owns a public parking space, even in front of your own home. This type of escalation will not be tolerated.”
Thomas, 60, of Mentone Avenue in Laurelton, pleaded guilty to assault in the first degree on May 10 and was sentenced today by Queens Supreme Court Justice Toni Cimino to seven years in prison and five years post release supervision.
According to the charges:
- On May 23, 2021, at approximately 5 p.m., Gregory Williams, 49, drove onto Mentone Avenue and parked his car after moving traffic cones in front of Thomas’ house. Thomas came out of his home and yelled at Williams, saying he could not park there. When Williams would not leave the parking space, Thomas went back into his home.
- Williams joined a group of his friends at a gathering across the street from Thomas’ house. Thomas emerged from his home again and screamed at Williams until a friend of Williams’ moved the car to end the dispute.
- Thomas nonetheless repeatedly came out of his house to yell at Williams. He eventually walked over to Williams, pulled a kitchen knife from his sock and repeatedly stabbed Williams in the chest, abdomen and arm.
- The victim suffered massive internal injuries, a collapsed lung and other wounds.
- The blood-stained knife was recovered in Thomas’ dishwasher.
Assistant District Attorney Katherine McCabe of the District Attorney’s Career Criminal Major Crimes Bureau prosecuted the case under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Michael Whitney, Bureau Chief, and under the overall supervision of Executive Assistant District Attorney of Major Crimes Shawn Clark.