Carlyle Thomas: NY father dies after being punched in the face by tow truck driver over parking dispute

Warning: This article contains recollection of crime that could trigger some readers. Discretion is advised.

BROOKLYN, NEW YORK CITY: After a fight over a parking space that cost a pitiful $10 on a Saturday, March 16 night in Brooklyn, the 61-year-old man died. A 30-year-old tow truck driver reportedly punched him in the face, causing him to fall back onto the pavement.

According to authorities, the fatal physical altercation started at a Shell gas station located at 1143 Clarkson Avenue in Brownsville at 8:45 pm.

Thomas "fell and hit the pavement" after the argument "became physical," according to the police. The tow truck driver punched the man in the face.

Victim of tragic incident identified as Carlyle Thomas

The victim, identified as Carlyle Thomas by a friend, lived directly next door to the station and occasionally parked in the designated spot in the station. This information was provided on Sunday, March 17 morning.

According to the friend, Thomas received a call on Saturday night informing him that the gas station manager had dispatched a tow truck to impound his vehicle.

“He came running. He open the door of the tow truck and the guy punch him in the head! He go down and bam!” the tipster said.

He added, “Dead. He die right there in front of pump 6! He never touch the guy, only touch his door and the guy come out and punch him. He’s a cool guy. Got a young son. Why they do that to him! One punch? Kill him?!”

According to his loved ones, Thomas, a former horse jockey who worked at Queens' Aqueduct Racetrack, has a son, a daughter, and stepchildren.

Carlyle Thomas' step-daughters told the New York Post that the gas station would charge $10 for overnight parking if residents in the neighborhood were unable to find parking on the street.

However, they added that Thomas had a relationship with the shop and occasionally would not pay until after he received his car.

His stepdaughter Andrele Peters said, "He's lived here a long time and has a relationship with them, so he didn't pay right away." She also said that he went down to look into why his car was being towed.

She further added, “He’s verbally arguing with the tow truck guy, and from what I hear next the guy hits him so hard he fell to the floor and his heart stopped. That hit was so hard to the floor, he died here. He didn’t make it to the hospital and the hospital is three minutes away.”

Carlyle Thomas' family described him as 'good guy'

Alexis Peter, Thomas' other stepdaughter, also expressed the same sentiment.

Alexis said, “He always tried to help them out any way he could. And he did pay to park! But sometimes, you know, I mean they’re friends, so sometimes he paid after when he came back.”

She asked, “Why he got to die over $10? He’s short, he’s shorter than my sister here. He’s a little man, you got to punch him like that? You got to kill him over $10?!”

After learning the "tough" news, the victim's 37-year-old nephew Dominic Graham said his family was visiting the apartment on Sunday, March 17 morning.

“He was a good guy. Around here he was the neighborhood boss. He knows everyone. And everyone from the gas station to 93rd Street knew him. Everyone,” Graham spoke of his uncle, who trained and fed the horses at the Queens racetrack Aqueduct.

“He was in shock because he thought the gas station guys were cool because he was always in there helping them like unpacking the soda and chips and stuff. Not because he worked there but just because he was hanging around you know with his buddies or whatever, he thought they were friends,” he added.

After being summoned to the scene, emergency personnel transported Thomas to Brookdale Hospital Medical Center. Police said that at 9:17 pm, he was declared dead. The NYPD reported that the tow truck driver was taken into custody at the scene and that charges were pending.