A man involved in an altercation over a parking spot in Queens recently turned himself in to the police, offering an unusual reason for his delay.
Matthew Nicola, 25, was taken into custody almost two months after a video surfaced showing him and two women—Andrea Dumitre, 45, and her daughter Sabrina Starman, 21—assaulting a female driver, Jada McPherson, over a reserved parking space on July 6.
“Honestly, I was dealing with a lot in my life and couldn’t bring myself to change things quickly,” Nicola said outside Queens Crown Court on Wednesday. “But I’ve sorted it out now.”
The incident escalated after McPherson tried to park her car, only to find Dumitre and Starman occupying the space. After initially driving away, she returned to claim the spot, but the situation took a violent turn when Nicola allegedly became aggressive.
“You’re a monkey, you’re a b****,” Dumitre shouted at McPherson, while Starman added, “You’re the slave b**** to be the king.” In response, McPherson called Dumitre an “immigrant b****.”
Following the chaos, Nicola was charged with third-degree assault, and a protective order was issued for McPherson.
“I honestly feel relieved it all came to light. The whole situation was quite traumatic, so I’m glad I have this protective order now,” she remarked after the developments.
Although Nicola was released post-arrest, McPherson, who relocated shortly after the incident, expressed concerns about potential threats to other women in her former neighborhood.
“I hope he reflects on his actions and understands how serious this is,” she said. “I really hope it doesn’t happen again.”
Nicola is set to appear in court again on October 27. Dumitre and Starman are scheduled for a hearing on September 9.
Interestingly, despite their disputes, neighbors noted Nicola’s challenging upbringing and his relationship with Dumitre, who he referred to as his “aunt.” She had employed him at her restaurant but eventually let him go due to concerns about his temperament.
“I grew up in Ridgewood and have seen fights over parking before. I truly sympathize with the woman who was injured. It’s just wrong,” a former colleague commented.
As McPherson prepares to start a new semester, she hopes this arrest will signify the end of a distressing chapter.
“It’s definitely drawn a lot of media attention,” she noted.
