A tragic incident unfolded in Brooklyn on Saturday night when a dispute over a $10 parking spot led to the death of a 61-year-old man. The incident occurred at a Shell gas station located at 1143 Clarkson Avenue in Brownsville around 8:45 p.m. The victim, identified as Carlyle Thomas, was allegedly punched by a 30-year-old tow truck driver, causing him to fall and hit the pavement.
Thomas, a resident of the neighborhood, lived next to the gas station and was known to park temporarily in the station’s parking spots. On the fateful evening, a friend alerted Thomas that the gas station manager had called a tow truck to impound his car. Rushing to the scene, Thomas confronted the tow truck driver, which escalated into a physical altercation.
According to eyewitness accounts, Thomas opened the door of the tow truck, leading to the driver punching him in the face. The impact caused Thomas to fall and hit the pavement, leading to his immediate death at the scene. Despite the proximity of a hospital, Thomas could not be saved.
Thomas, a former horse jockey who worked at Aqueduct Racetrack in Queens, was a father to a son, a daughter, and step-children. His step-daughters revealed that the gas station often charged locals $10 to park overnight if they couldn’t find a spot on the street. However, Thomas had a rapport with the station and would sometimes pay after retrieving his car.
The incident has left the community in shock, with friends and family mourning the loss of a man they describe as a “good guy” and a “neighborhood boss”. Thomas’ nephew, Dominic Graham, expressed disbelief that his uncle, known for his friendly relations with the gas station staff, would meet such a tragic end.
The tow truck driver was taken into custody at the scene, with charges pending, according to the NYPD. Emergency responders transported Thomas to Brookdale Hospital Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead at 9:17 p.m.