Father: Son Was Defending Family When He Shot Man In Washington Heights

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- A man was shot in the leg in the middle of his lobby in Washington Heights, and relatives said the suspect in the shooting was fighting for his family after five years of torment.

As CBS2's Tracee Carrasco reported exclusively, the suspect, David Polanco, claimed he was protecting his mother when he shot the man. On Monday night, Polanco's parents said he is actually the victim.

Surveillance video showed the moment Polanco reached his boiling point when he pulled out a gun and shot Fransisco Del Villar, 50, in the leg inside the lobby of his West 172nd Street apartment building.

Polanco's father, Ralph Polanco Sr., told CBS2 that the shooting Saturday night was the result of name-calling and taunting for the past five years.

"This is an accumulation of all that harassment because these people want us out," Polanco Sr. said.

Polanco Sr. said his 31-year-old son went to the lobby to check the mail when he encountered the 50-year-old victim drinking, and cursing.

"What he was doing was calling the F word a lot in front (my wife), you know? And my son said: 'Hey, why don't you – why don't you watch your mouth? You're talking in front of my mother,'" Polanco Sr. said. "David was holding on and holding on, and when the guy started walking towards him, that's when my son took the gun and shot him in the leg."

Polanco Sr. said the gun belonged to his late father-in-law, and after the shooting, David Polanco called police to turn himself in.

David Polanco even directed them to the gun when they arrived, his father said.

"Then he came in and called 911 and told them: 'My name is David Polanco. This incident just happened. I shot someone in the leg,'" Polanco Sr. said.

Polanco Sr. was defending his son's actions.

"My son is very humble and a good kid," he said.

David Polanco was being held in jail late Monday, charged with attempted murder, assault and weapons possession.