Witnesses who were near W. 33rd Street and Broadway around 8 P.M. on Tuesday, June 11, saw at least three men get into a verbal altercation that eventually escalated into gunfire. Police say the victim, a 33-year-old unnamed male, and two other unidentified men were reportedly arguing over money. Suddenly, one of the individuals pulled out a gun and fired at the victim.
The male was struck in the leg but not fatally wounded. A nearby witness called the authorities promptly as pedestrians panicked and scattered around the area.
The victim was allegedly yelling out, “I want my money!” as the gunman ran off with the other suspect. While this remains unconfirmed, it’s been reported that the victim was also yelling out that he wanted the culprit dead rather than arrested.
Medical responders arrived at the scene and issued medical treatment. The victim was taken to the nearby Bellevue Hospital, where he was listed in stable condition. Investigators were able to locate one of the individuals believed to be involved in the fight, and they’ve since been charged for their participation in the shooting.
The other individual was eventually tracked down later in the evening, and they were also charged.
When an Argument Leads to Gunfire
Have you ever been in a heated argument that was escalating fast and inducing feelings of terror? Unfortunately, arguments can escalate into physical violence. When one party has a weapon, and they begin to feel threatened, there’s a great chance that they’ll leverage their firearm to protect themselves.
In some situations, pulling out a firearm and firing a shot is the best way to protect yourself. Legally, it’s acceptable to shoot someone if your life is in danger and you’re acting in self-defense. In the scenario above, one witness said they heard the alleged victim saying they wanted the reported suspect dead. That statement could be used as evidence to reveal the victim’s intent to harm or kill the perpetrator, but it’s unclear whether the perpetrator’s life was really in danger. In order for self-defense to be a successful defense strategy, a valid threat to one’s life must be present.
There are other ways to defend yourself if you get accused of committing gun violence in New York.
Some of the most common defense strategies include arguing you were defending someone else’s life, claiming that you were acting under coercion or duress, inducing reasonable doubt that you committed the crimes in question, or proving your innocence by producing an alibi. Depending on what happened during the arrest, you might also be able to argue that your rights were violated during the investigation process or arrest. A rights violation can lead to your entire case being thrown out.
In other situations, it might be a better idea to consider the evidence the other side has against you and consider a plea deal arrangement. This type of arrangement asks you to plead guilty in exchange for a lighter sentence. Are you ready to consider your options and get started on your defense strategy?
If so, then schedule a meeting with our team of New York criminal defense attorneys now.
