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Lesson to everyone: If you dare someone to shoot you, they might just do that. On West 16th Street near 5th Avenue yesterday, two men were arguing, and one, Ronald Kordis, said, "I have nothing to give. Go ahead shoot!" These words were uttered, as the Daily News reports, "as he started down the barrel of a gun." Kordis reached for the gun, and the gunman shot Kordis in the leg. And it gets crazier: When emergency room workers at St. Vincent's "removed his clothes to do so, they found a surprise: 76 glassine envelopes, or 'decks' of heroin, the police said." And, yes, Kordis was a drug dealer. The NY Times really spun the surprise element, complete with passer-by who thought it was just a loud NY argument, not something that would involve actual shooting. Oddly enough, a nickel in Kordis's pocket helped lessen the impact of the bullet. Residents were shocked, saying, "I've never even heard of people punching each other — it's a very affluent street. I can't believe this." One woman who was looking at an apartment on the street, said, "This used to be a really nice spot — I'm not so sure anymore. I jumped out of a cab to find the street cornered off with caution tape. I feel a bit nervous about moving here now." Lady, this is just what living in the big city is about: Drug dealers getting robbed when leaving the bank.
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This is going to sound unbelievable, but I was mugged right near that very corner in 1996. I was living on 15th between 6&7 and was walking home at 3 a.m.from Johnny Lats Big Workout Gym on 17th, east of 5th (there's still a gym there, but different name. they used to be open 24 hours, which suited my bartender schedule).
Long story short, two guys put a gun to me and took my 20 dollar bill. I went home, called the cops, they swung by, picked me up and drove over to where some other cops had already bagged my guys.
Turns out undercovers had been patrolling (in a fake taxi) and keeping an eye on these two because they didn't look like residents of the area. When they heard my call relayed, they knew exactly who to look for and nabbed them on the east side of Union Square.
I got to testify before a grand jury, but never went to court because the cops or prosecutors pulled the old "rat out your buddy and we'll go easy on you" trick and they both ratted each other out and went back to jail (they were already on parole anyway).
The story they told was that they'd intended to get off the subway at 42nd street to rob hookers (they could still be found there back then) but they missed their stop and ended up getting off at 14th and decided to make use of their time anyway.
Ug, sorry, that was longer than I meant to write. Anyway, I was mugged at that very spot years ago.