NY Daily News photographer seriously injured in West Village carjacking

[The Bobster]

NY Daily News photographer seriously injured in West Village carjacking

A. Saverio “Sam” Costanza, a 73-year-old credentialed shutterbug, had left his car running in front of 275 West 4th Street in the West Village while he popped into a deli around 6:50 p.…

nypost.com

NY Daily News photographer seriously injured in West Village carjacking​

By
Joe Marino and

Patrick Reilly


August 11, 2022 12:14am
Updated

New York Daily News Photographer Sam Costanza broke his leg when he tried to stop a thief from stealing his car on Wednesday. Christopher Peterson / SplashNew

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A New York Daily News photographer was seriously injured after he tried to stop a man from stealing his car in Manhattan Wednesday night — but wound up getting dragged several blocks before the vehicle crashed, police and sources said.
The chaotic scene unfolded after A. Saverio “Sam” Costanza, a 73-year-old shutterbug, left his car running in front of 275 West 4th Street in the West Village and popped into a deli around 6:50 p.m., according to cops and sources.
While he was in the store, 44-year-old Tabbica Mahmoud, of Brooklyn, allegedly hopped into the driver’s seat of the unattended vehicle, according to police and sources.
Costanza ran outside when he saw the carjacking and leapt into the passenger side window as the suspect tried to drive away, sources said.
The veteran photographer was dragged for three blocks and his foot was run over before the driver lost control and crashed into a dining shed at West 4th Street and Bank Street, sources said.
44-year-old Tabbica Mahmoud was arrested after carjacking a NY press photographer’s car on Wednesday.Christopher Peterson / SplashNew
Mahmoud, who was ejected from the vehicle in the crash, was taken into custody and transported to Bellevue Hospital for evaluation, police and sources said.
Costanza suffered compound leg fracture and was hospitalized in stable condition, sources said.
Photographer Sam Costanza broke his leg after he jumped into his passenger window during a car jacking in the West Village.Marc S. Vodofsky Costanza, 73, is recovering at Bellevue Hospital.
No other injuries were reported.
Mahmoud was charged with grand larceny of a vehicle, reckless endangerment, criminal possession of stolen property and criminal possession of a controlled substance, cops said.
Mahmoud has a lengthy rap sheet with 26 prior arrests including 17 felonies, police and sources said.