Shooting, Crash In Pompano Beach Sends Taxi Driver To Hospital
POMPANO BEACH (CBSMiami) –Detectives from the Broward Sheriff's Office are investigating the shooting of a taxi cab driver which then led to a crash. Meanwhile, the man's family is hoping police arrest the shooter.
According to BSO officials the taxi cab driver, identified by 45-year-old Williamson Joseph of Margate, crashed into a parked SUV at 2900 NW 7th Street in Pompano Beach around 6 a.m. Friday.
Police said he was trying to come to a stop after he was shot.
Witnesses who got to the cab driver first said the scene was chaotic.
"He was laying there in a pool of blood, said 'I've been shot, I don't want to die, I don't want to die!'" said Reverend Jerry Gray.
Joseph was taken to North Broward Medical Center for treatment. Family members told CBS4's Joan Murray he was out of surgery by early afternoon, after he had a bullet removed, and it appears he will survive his wounds.
"He was shot on the right side," his sister-in-law Helen Joseph told CBS4 News reporter Joan Murray outside the emergency room of the hospital.
BSO detectives searched the northwest Pompano Beach neighborhood looking for a possible suspect, but haven't said if they did apprehend someone.
"Detectives are working leads," said Mike Jachles of the BSO.
Williams is the father of five kids, and has been a taxi driver for 11 years.
Joseph's wife of 16 years, Caroline Joseph, said she became frantic when she could not reach him by phone Friday morning since they talk everyday.
When he did not show up to take their 15-year-old daughter to school she said knew something was terribly wrong.
"My husband is a good husband," she said. "He always takes care of me and my kids."
Family members said he was robbed before, by a bandit using a knife, but was not stabbed in that robbery.
"We always told him it's a dangerous job, but he said he likes it," said Helene Joseph.
"I think it's terrible what went on," said neighbor Alice Page. "I guess somebody was trying to rob him."
Anyone with information is asked to contact Broward Crime Stoppers (954) 493-TIPS.
