Men Allegedly Pull Guns, Threaten To Shoot, Over Parking Space

WORCESTER, MA—Those in the Woo have long known the parameters over saving parking spots on the streets in the snowy months. Rarely, however, does the dispute escalate to physical violence. Over the weekend, three men were arrested and charged after a disagreement escalated over just that.

On Saturday, Jan. 6, around 12:15 a.m., Worcester police were called to Canton Street for a report of three men with guns who held one of those guns to the head of a victim.

Three suspects matching the description reportedly ran into 25 Canton St. while the dispatcher continued to field a call that was "violent in nature." Police cleared the apartment, and witnesses said that three men, later identified as Jonathon Rivera, 21, Canton Street, Hector Viera, 20, Beacon Street and Luis Torres, 35, Loudon Street, knocked on the door of the victims and demanded that they move their car from their street parking spot. According to police, when the victims refused, Rivera, Viera and Torres began shoveling snow on to the victim's car. The argument ensued when the victims came outside to remove the snow.

According to the report, Rivera spit on one of the victims, and Rivera and Viera pulled out what appeared to be working firearms and pointed them at the heads of the victims, while threatening to shoot them. Torres smashed the victim's car window with a baseball bat and flattened the tires, running when police arrived.

Police found Rivera, Torres and Viera in a Canton Street apartment, and in the hallway, officers located several realistic-looking paintball guns and accessories, two baseball bats, three realistic BB pistols, a realistic BB rifle, and two bags of marijuana.

Jonathon Rivera is charged with 3 counts of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon (gun) and Assault and Battery (spit). Hector Viera is charged with 3 counts of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon (gun). Luis Torres is charged with Defacement of Property over $250. All three males will be arraigned in Worcester District Court.

Patch file photo