Police: Suspect Arrested In Deadly Dispute Over Parking Space In Brooklyn
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- A suspect has been arrested in connection with a deadly stabbing in a dispute over a parking space in Brooklyn.
Authorities say 41-year-old Djems Jean-Paul faces charges of manslaughter, assault and criminal possession of a weapon. Police made the arrest as he allegedly tried to board a flight Monday morning from JFK to Port-au-Prince, Haiti, WCBS 880's Marla Diamond reported.
"Based on witnesses and evidence from the scene, we were able to develop a person of interest" Assistant Chief of Detectives Patrick Conry said.
He said a travel alert was placed for the suspect's car and 911 call was later received saying that he booked a flight on JetBlue.
"We responded to the airport prior to him getting on the flight," Conroy said. "We were able to apprehend him."
The incident happened around 11:30 p.m. Sunday on East 73rd Street in Bergen Beach. Cell phone video captured the chaotic scene that police said began when a homeowner returned to find a car blocking his driveway.
Witnesses said the homeowner honked his horn repeatedly and when the owner of the car, who was visiting someone, finally returned, neighbors say he went to confront him.
"He saw the guy came out of his house to move the car," witness Ricky Zawacki told CBS2's Janelle Burrell. "He get out of the car, he gets in the guy's face and starts screaming and everything."
Zawacki watched as the 29-year-old homeowner left and returned with back-up, Burrell reported.
"He lost his temper, he was in a really heated emotion at the time. He ran upstairs, he grabbed his little brother and he came outside with a gate that you use to block babies from going up the stairs and he smacked the guy over the head with it," he said.
Witnesses say a friend of the car owner jumped in before police say the car owner allegedly grabbed a knife and began swinging, eventually hitting the homeowner's 23-year-old brother, Omari Dahan, in the chest.
"He just dropped to the floor," said witness Corey Gigoux. "It happened so fast."
The older brother was also stabbed in the arm, police said. Both were taken to the hospital, where the younger brother was pronounced dead.
Crime scene investigators spent the morning collecting evidence. Residents, looking on, say fights over parking in the area are common.
"People block driveways all the time, constant horn beeping," said resident Charlie Shrem. "People just don't care."
"It's always an argument over parking here," said neighbor Gene Eliacin. "Not only them, everybody."
But never did they think it could lead to this.
"It's horrible," Zawacki said. "It's a shame. I never thought I'd see someone get killed over a parking spot."
Thomas Velinski said he's known Dahan since he was 6-years-old.
"It hurts because I'm used to seeing him," he said, "Very nice guy, always willing to help me when I needed help fixing things in the apartment."
The 29-year-old brother is listed in stable condition.
The investigation is ongoing.