NYC TLC Driver Stabs & Kills Man During Parking Dispute (NYPD)
NYPD said Dominic Cruz Aguilera, 19, was killed by a neighbor in what appears to be a dispute that started over a double-parked vehicle
Dispute happened outside of a deli on Featherbed Lane and Inwood Avenue in the Morris Heights section of the Bronx on Thursday morning, April 18th
Community members say parking is a chronic problem that sometimes leads to disputes and fights, but has never resulted in a serious crime
Reports mention suspect Vladimir Lopez German, 45, was an NYC “Uber” or “taxi” driver, and tried to flee country before being captured and charged
Based on our research an individual with a matching full name was an active NYC TLC driver in 2023 and might have only gotten licensed in July 2023
Firstly, our condolences to the family and friends of Dominic Cruz Aguilera, 19, who was fatally stabbed in the Bronx on Thursday, April 18th around 8:30am.
The suspect, Vladimir Lopez German, 45, was a neighbor of Mr. Aguilera and his family. He fled the scene of the crime and was reportedly trying to flee country, but was later captured. Mr. Lopez German, said to be an “Uber” driver, is now charged with Mr. Aguilera’s murder, manslaughter and criminal possession of a weapon. Mr. Lopez German was reported to live with his wife and young child.
"I don’t know what happened, honestly. You lose your patience and kill somebody over a parking space"
- Wendy Reinosa (Bronx bodega worker where Dominic Cruz Aguilera collapsed after being stabbed)
Although the latest active NYC TLC driver database doesn’t have a licensed driver listed with a matching name to the above mentioned suspect, a 2023 For Hire Vehicles (FHV) - Active Drivers from NYC Open Data does have a driver with a full matching name. Based on our research, we believe Mr. Lopez German might be a newly licensed TLC driver as his drivers license number begins with 603 and was set to expire in July 2026.
His TLC drivers license number and associated expiration date, implies Mr. Lopez German might have become a commercially licensed TLC driver less than a year ago in July 2023. This is our speculation, but we think it’s important to to provide more context about Mr. Lopez German’s relationship with the NYC for-hire transportation industry.
According to the NYPD and police sources, Dominic Cruz Aguilera was inside his Morris Heights (West Bronx) home when neighbor Vladimir Lopez German demanded a vehicle belonging to Aguilera be moved. After moving the vehicle near Inwood Avenue and Featherbed Lane, an argument is said to have taken place. It was during this argument when Mr. Lopez German allegedly stabbed the 19 year old Mr. Aguilera in the chest.
After being stabbed, a badly wounded Aguilera went to a nearby bodega where he collapsed. He was eventually pronounced dead after being taken to Lincoln Hospital.
Multiple reports cited neighborhood residents stating vehicles are often double-parked in the neighborhood which has previously led to disputes, although nothing this serious.
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