New York District Attorney Alvin Bragg isn’t a fan of those who use violence to defend their lives and property. Indeed, his philosophy seems to support the idea that innocent civilians should simply allow criminals to victimize them without daring to fight back.
The fact that his office has tried to prosecute at least two New Yorkers for defending themselves shows exactly why it is so important for Americans to be focused on their local officials.
A parking garage attendant in Manhattan named Moussa Diarra has been charged with attempted murder, assault, and criminal possession of a weapon after allegedly shooting a man whom he suspected of theft. Diarra, 57, was shot twice during the confrontation but managed to disarm the suspect and fire back, according to police.
The incident took place at around 5:30 a.m. on Saturday when Diarra spotted a man peering into cars on the second floor of a garage on West 31st Street. Upon approaching the suspect, he asked to inspect the contents of his bag but was met with resistance as the man pulled out a gun.
A struggle ensued as Diarra tried to disarm the suspect, which resulted in him being shot twice with one round hitting him in the stomach and the other grazing his ear. In an act of self-defense, the attendant managed to wrestle the firearm from the suspect and shot him in the chest.
The suspect was rushed to a hospital in critical condition, while Diarra received medical treatment for his injuries. Bragg’s office subsequently charged him with attempted murder, assault, and criminal possession of a weapon.
Police are currently investigating the incident and are urging anyone with information to come forward. “We are deeply concerned by this violent incident and are working diligently to get to the bottom of what happened,” said NYPD Chief of Detectives, John Smith.
Charles Rhodie, 59, the suspect who was shot in the parking garage, has also been charged with attempted murder, assault, criminal possession of a weapon and burglary, according to police.
The initial charges against Diarra sparked outrage, with many arguing that the shooting was an act of self-defense. The incident has drawn comparisons to the case of Jose Alba, a Manhattan bodega clerk who was charged with murder after fatally stabbing an angry customer who assaulted him behind the counter in July of last year. Alba spent six days in Rikers Island before the charges were dropped amid public outrage.
Diarra’s friends and family have voiced their support for the attendant, with a family friend saying that “the guy tried to rob his business… he has to defend himself.” Others have also expressed disbelief at the charges against the attendant, with one worker nearby the garage asking, “How can a hardworking man get arrested for defending himself?”
This situation is a prime example of why Americans need to be aware of what is going on in their local communities. If a citizen is going to be subject to tyranny, it will most likely be meted out by their city government, not the federal and state. The only reason Bragg’s office changed course on pressing charges is because of the outcry from the community. If news outlets like the New York Post hadn’t reported on these stories, there might not have been a backlash, meaning these two men would be facing years in prison just for defending themselves.
