A parking garage worker in New York City was charged with attempted murder after confronting an armed thief, wrestling the weapon away, and firing fire at the suspect.
In connection with the incident that occurred at approximately 5:30 a.m. on Saturday, Moussa Diarra, 57, is also charged with assault and criminal possession of a firearm.
The attendant on the second floor of the West 31st Street garage in Manhattan witnessed a man peeking into automobiles, according to the New York Post and police. Diarra suspected the man of theft, so he escorted him outside and questioned him about the contents of his bag.
The man then drew a pistol on Diarra, who attempted to seize it. When the gun was discharged, Diarra was shot in the stomach and injured in the ear.
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Diarra then turned the gun on the would-be thief and shot him in the chest.
Charles Rhodie, age 59, was additionally charged with attempted murder, assault, and unlawful possession of a weapon. He is also charged with burglary, according to police.
After Saturday’s incident in the parking garage, Diarra and Rhodie were taken to Bellevue Hospital in stable condition.
The charges against Diarra for defending himself against an assailant stem from an event that occurred a year ago. In July, Jose Alba, a clerk at a bodega in Manhattan, was charged with murder following an argument with an angry client who struck him behind the counter. Alba stabbed and killed the attacker in self-defense but was charged with murder and incarcerated on Rikers Island.
Alba was imprisoned for six days before District Attorney Alvin Bragg withdrew the murder accusation in response to tremendous public outrage.
