Murder charges for hit-and-run SUV driver accused of deliberately running over Brooklyn man
A Brooklyn man was hit with murder charges after cops say he ran down another man with his sports utility vehicle last month.
Johnathan Avila, 38, was busted Monday afternoon — and had more than 700 envelopes of heroin on him, most of them stamped with the words “Bite Me” in red lettering, when he was arrested, according to a criminal complaint. He was also carrying several oxycodone pills, authorities allege.
Witnesses to the May 19 hit-and-run characterized it to the Daily News as the deadly result of a beef over drug dealing territory.
Video from the scene shows the driver get into his Honda CR-V just before 12:30 p.m. As his vehicle neared S. 5th St. and Keap St., he’s approached by three people on the driver’s side.
One of them can be seen leaning into the passenger window before the driver swerves away, points his car at Jesus Perez, 49, and runs the victim over..
“One of the guys threw a punch” at the SUV driver, Fernando Tapia, the super of a nearby building, said last month.
Police later found the abandoned Honda CR-V about a mile from the scene, on Humboldt St. near Meserole St.
Avila was arraigned Tuesday in Brooklyn Criminal Court on murder, manslaughter, felony drug possession and other charges. He was ordered held without bail and returns to court Friday.
With Kerry Burke
