Police Investigating Death Of Disabled Former MTA Bus Driver In Bushwick
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) - Police are dealing with a real-life murder mystery in Brooklyn, trying to figure out who would stab a disabled former MTA bus driver multiple times in his apartment.
Otis James, 46, was found in his home on Central Avenue in Bushwick unconscious and bleeding. Police say he had multiple stab wounds to his chest and blunt force trauma to the head.
"He didn't deserve it, said Kevin Arokium, a friend of the victim. "He's a peaceful man, a humble man."
Arokium says he cant get the picture out of his mind, seeing the dead body of his downstairs neighbor James, a married father of three.
"I see my man on the floor - blood, paper towel, knife - that's all I could remember seeing," said Arokium "That's all I see right now, a big hole in my man's chest. That's all I see right now."
Wednesday morning police carried out bags of evidence from the murder scene at 494 Central Ave. in Bushwick, including James's boxed up wheelchair.
Police arrived around 4:30 Tuesday afternoon and found a bloody scene where someone stabbed James more than 10 times.
Aunt Donna James says the family is devastated.
"Right now he says he's walking around like a zombie," Donna said of her husband. "He don't know what to do. He's like a father figure to him."
James worked as an MTA bus driver for about 11 years, retiring on disability in 2017.
A union official says he had been robbed and shot on vacation in Guyana, leaving him paralyzed from the waist down.
Robbery may have played a role in his murder, as well.
"There are some allegations that there was money in the house but at this point in time it's a little early to define the motive," said NYPD chief of detectives Dermot Shea.
The family had no idea who would wish such malice against James.
"We don't know," said Donna "We really don't know."
Police are searching the neighborhood block for surveillance video that may have caught the suspect. So far no arrests have been made.
