UTICA AVE. CAR DEALER SLAIN

By Charles Rogers  

Police tape blocks entrance to Utica Avenue used car lot owned by victim of Saturday's fatal shooting. Charles Rogers

The well-respected owner of a used car lot on Utica Avenue near Avenue M was shot and killed Saturday when three armed bandits tried to rob him. One of the gunmen was wounded when a worker at the lot shot him with a handgun dropped by one of the suspects, according to police. Two suspects are still being sought.

Police spokesperson Detective Martin Speechley said Flatlands resident Bobby Carnival, 35, the owner of the lot at 2079 Utica Avenue was killed when the three thugs ran into his lot at about 6:30 p.m. and accosted the victim in his office. There was a struggle as Carnival wrestled with the suspect and one of the first man's accomplices shot him in the chest, according to Speechley.

Meanwhile, another accomplice dropped his gun and one of Carnival's fellow workers picked it up and started firing, hitting a suspect. The other two suspects then ran from the lot. Police are still looking for them.

Robert Carnival, pictured with his family, was shot during an attempted robbery on Saturday. Courtesy of N.Y. Daily News

Carnival and the suspect were both taken to Kings County Hospital by Emergency Medical Service paramedics, witnesses said. Carnival later died in the hospital.

Speechley said that, although some reports had indicated the wounded suspect is dead, there are indications that he was shot once in the chest and once in the arm and did not die. Cops said the injured suspect's age is 25, but they would not release his name at this time. The only identification given for the suspects is that they all are black.

The car dealer had been at the Utica Avenue location for about six years, neighbors said, and was well known in the area. One business owner told TV reporters that "everybody liked him" and that he worked late into the evening on a number of occasions. He is survived by his wife and two small children.

Used car lot on Utica Avenue was site of murder Saturday when owner was fatally shot while fighting off three would-be robbers, police said. Charles Rogers

Anyone with information on the case is asked to call the 63rd Precinct Detective Squad at (718) 258-4401 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS. All calls will be kept confidential.

 

 

 

 

 

 

car