Tennessee Criminal Lawyer Blog

Some people are more easily angered than others. Some people seemingly take everything in stride, while others seem to overreact to every twist and turn life throws their way. If you are one of those who are angered a little too easily, driving during the holiday season may not be for you. The general chaos that surrounds parking lots at this time of year can lead to fights and arguments of all sorts as drivers jockey for premium parking spots. One such fight took a painful turn last Sunday as an eighteen year-old woman stabbed a man in the chest with an ice pick outside a Springfield, Missouri restaurant because she felt that the man had taken her parking space. He was taken to the hospital, but his injuries were not life-threatening. The personal injury consequences of the woman’s actions are discussed here.

In Tennessee, the woman would likely be charged with aggravated assault. A person can be charged with aggravated assault in Tennessee for a variety of conduct, including any time he or she intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly causes bodily injury to another person by using or displaying a deadly weapon. An ice pick would qualify as a deadly weapon, especially when it is in the hands of a self-entitled teenager who takes her parking a little too seriously. Intentional aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, the most likely charge that would face the teen in this scenario, is a Class C felony, punishable by up to fifteen years and a fine not to exceed ten thousand dollars. This is a harsh price to pay as a result of missing out on a good parking spot, especially when parking farther away would only set you back about five minutes or that it would probably cost about fifty bucks at the most to call a taxi that will drop you off right at the front door.

Source: http://www.news-leader.com/article/20091221/NEWS01/912210340/1007/Man-stabbed-by-ice-pick-in-beef-over-parking-spot