Bronx man accused of killing teenage neighbor over parking dispute denied bail

A Bronx man accused of first-degree murder of his teenage neighbor over a parking space dispute has been denied bail.

Investigators say 45-year-old Vladimir Lopez German stabbed 19-year-old Dominic Cruz Aguilera in the chest on April 19.

According to prosecutors, Lopez German, a taxi driver, was walking to his car parked at the corner of Inwood Avenue and Featherbed Lane that morning when he was blocked in by a double-parked car. Aguilera's family says Lopez German knocked on their apartment door and demanded that someone move the car.

The Bronx District Attorney's Office says Aguilera went down to move the car while Lopez German waited 10 minutes for him to get out and approached him with a knife in his pocket. Investigators say surveillance video and witnesses at the scene showed a physical altercation between the two before Lopez German pulled out the knife and stabbed Aguilera in the chest.

Prosecutors say Lopez German told his friend shortly before the encounter that he was going to “do something stupid.”

After the attack, Lopez German's brother booked a one-way flight for him to the Dominican Republic. However, his lawyer said he did not take the flight and turned himself in seven hours later.

Aguilera's family was present in the courtroom.

“He destroyed this family, he destroyed me, he killed him, but he also killed us and he has to pay for that,” said Elba Deleon, Aguilera's cousin.

Lopez German has no previous convictions. He must appear in court again in October.