Trial begins in fatal Midtown parking garage shooting - New York News | NYC Breaking News

Trial begins in fatal Midtown parking garage shooting

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Nkosi Thandiwe, 23, a former security guard, is charged with fatally shooting 26-year-old Brittney Watts in a parking garage in July 2011. Nkosi Thandiwe, 23, a former security guard, is charged with fatally shooting 26-year-old Brittney Watts in a parking garage in July 2011.
ATLANTA -

Two women shot in a Midtown parking garage took the stand in the trial of the man accused in the 2011 shooting spree.

Nkosi Thandiwe, 23, a former security guard, is charged with fatally shooting 26-year-old Brittney Watts in a parking garage in July 2011.

A packed courtroom, including many family members of Watts, and the jury saw surveillance footage of Watts taken moments before she walked into the garage and was fatally shot in the neck.

Lauren Garcia, 24, was paralyzed after also being shot that day. She told the court what happened as she walked across the street to go to lunch and saw a car speeding from the garage.

"I just fell to the ground and landed on my stomach and kind of caught myself on my hands, and realized that I couldn't move my legs and I couldn't walk and I couldn't feel my legs," said Garcia.  

Prosecutors say Thandwie shot the women after stealing the first victim's car. The assistant district attorney says Thandwie turned himself in and was found with the murder weapon.

Those who were there on the day of the shooting testified that they will never forget it.  

"It took a couple shots to realize what was happening.  I heard the gunshot. I looked in the window. I looked from his eyes to what I realized was a gun. I guess, paired the shot with the gun and realized what was happening and took off running," said Katherine Ellison.

A third woman, Tiffany Ferenczy, was shot that day. She testified she was shot in the lower leg and says she is still recovering.

The medical examiner was the last witness scheduled to take the stand on Tuesday.

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