PHILADELPHIA — A brawl over a snow-cleared parking spot left one man in critical condition on Thursday in Philadelphia.
In surveillance video obtained by our sister station, 6ABC Action News, you can see a fight break out on a street off Lehigh Avenue in the Kensington section around 1:20 p.m. local time.
According to police, the entire ordeal was over a parking spot.
The fight first involved the 45-year-old victim and a 21-year-old man, and then others reportedly jumped in.
Police say the victim produced a knife and the other man produced a legally owned handgun.
“Both individuals placed their weapons down and continued fighting,” police said in a news release.
A second person, identified by police as a 36-year-old woman, then retrieved the firearm from a vehicle, struck the victim with it and discharged a round into the ground.
Police say the victim remains hospitalized with injuries to his head.
No other injuries were reported.
All of the people involved are in custody, but no charges have been filed as police continue to investigate.
Saving parking spots isn’t new to Philadelphia. Traffic cones, chairs and other items are often found marking off a freshly shoveled space.
Following Thursday’s fight, police are reminding residents that “savesies” is illegal.
“It’s very disturbing,” Philadelphia Police Sgt. Eric Gripp said. “That’s why we do take this seriously. Even though it seems like it’s not that serious of an issue, unfortunately, over the years we’ve seen some really tragic results.”
On Wednesday in West Philadelphia, someone shattered a windshield and left a note stating, “Next time, don’t move people trash can for your convenience.”
Delfina Arias in North Philadelphia was threatened, too.
“I try to pay no mind. Just try to find parking where I don’t bother nobody,” she said.
Arias says a driver parked in the spot she shoveled outside her home, so she had to find a new one. She later found a note on her vehicle reading: “Don’t park in a spot you didn’t shovel or pay. Ignorant.”
“I think if you own your property, you should own your spot, but that’s not how it works,” she said.
Police are reminding residents that you do not own the parking spot.
“It’s not your parking spot, you don’t own it. But also think about it – if someone is parking in your spot, there’s a good chance they had to shovel out a spot of their own,” Gripp said.
“We’re all under a lot of stress right now. The snow certainly isn’t helping. But just remember, this might be an opportunity to meet some of your neighbors and help each other out. And this is just not worth fighting over,” he added.
Police say if you try to save a parking spot, you could face traffic violations – or, in extreme situations, serious charges like those stemming from Thursday’s incident.
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