A tow truck driver accused of fatally punching a 61-year-old man during an argument over a $10 parking space has been released from a New York City jail.
Kevon Johnson, 30, was arraigned Monday on charges of third-degree assault after police say he punched Carlyle Thomas, 61, in the face at a Brooklyn gas station Saturday night.
The man’s death was ruled a homicide, but the suspect faces an assault charge due to a law that only allows charges related to the punch because it is not possible to prove that there was an intention to cause death or serious injury.
Johnson was released without bail because statewide bail reforms in 2020 made the misdemeanor charge ineligible for bail, a law enforcement source told the New York Post.
The incident was sparked by an argument over parking at a Shell gas station in Brownsville, and the suspect allegedly punched Thomas before fatally hitting his head on the sidewalk.
A tow truck driver accused of fatally punching a 61-year-old man during an argument over a $10 parking space has been released from a New York prison.
Kevon Johnson, 30, was arraigned Monday on charges of third-degree assault after police say he punched Carlyle Thomas (pictured), 61, in the face at a gas station in Brooklyn on Saturday night.
Surveillance video shows Thomas trying to stop his minivan from being towed from the gas station.
He opened the driver’s door and the tow truck driver punched him in the face moments later.
The grandfather was thrown to the ground by the force and smashed his head on the concrete floor.
His family said he lived next door and made a deal with the gas station owner to park there for $10 if he couldn’t find another spot.
Thomas’ fiancee, Andrea Gooden, insisted the owner could have called her if he needed to move the car, but decided to call a tow truck instead.
She blamed the gas station owner and the tow truck driver for her partner’s death.
“He said, ‘I was mad at him, so I called the tow truck.’ So you’re mad at him and he loses his life?, Gooden said WABC.
“He could have called her. He had her number. He could have called me because he called him at 2 a.m. to come down and help his workers when someone broke into his stores. And he would never say no to her.
But a friend of Thomas’s said someone called to warn him that a tow truck was being called to impound his car.
“He came running. He opens the tow truck door and the guy punches him in the head! He comes down and bam, says the friend.
‘Dead. He (died) right there, in front of pump 6! He never (touch) the guy, only (touch) his door and the guy (come out) and (hit) him.
“He’s a cool guy. I have a young son. Why are they doing this to him! A punch ? Kill him?!’
The incident was sparked by an argument over parking at a Shell gas station in Brownsville, and the suspect allegedly punched Thomas before fatally hitting his head on the sidewalk.
Johnson was taken into custody before being granted supervised release during his court appearance Monday.
Thomas, a former horse racing jockey, is survived by his son, daughter, stepchildren and fiancée
Johnson was taken into custody before being released under supervision when he appeared in court on Monday.
Thomas, a former horse racing jockey, is survived by his son, daughter, stepchildren and fiancée.
“He gets into a verbal argument with the tow truck guy and from what I hear next the guy hit him so hard he fell to the ground and his heart stopped,” his beau said -daughter Andrele Peters.
“That hit was so hard on the ground that he died here. He didn’t make it to the hospital and the hospital is three minutes away.
While his other daughter-in-law, Alexis Peters, added: “He always tried to help them in any way he could.
“And he paid to park!” But sometimes, you know, I mean, they’re friends, so sometimes he would pay afterwards when he came back.
“Why did he die for $10?” He’s small, he’s smaller than my sister here. He’s a little man, do you have to hit him like that? You have to kill him for $10?!’
Thomas’ family said he didn’t deserve this and are demanding justice.