Passenger Shoots Cabbie In Neck During Fare Dispute In Brooklyn, Police Say
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Police say a cab driver was shot by a passenger overnight in Brooklyn.
Police said the driver of a green outer borough taxi cab picked up a woman, then a man from another location.
Police said the passengers asked to be dropped off at Grattan and Bogart Streets in Bushwick, just after midnight Friday morning.
According to police, the suspects disputed the fare and didn't want to pay.
That started an argument and that's when the man allegedly stuck a gun through the safety partition and into the driver's neck, CBS2's Natalie Duddridge reported.
The cabbie moved his head away just in time, police said.
He was grazed by a bullet. The passengers ran away.
LINK: Tracking Shootings In New York City
"That's beyond callous and cruel," one person said. "Just pure evil."
"I just think people in this day and age are crazy," said another.
The cabbie managed to drive a few more blocks to Evergreen and Flatbush avenues, where he called 911. He was taken to Kings County Hospital in stable condition.
"We are grateful that the attack was not fatal and will provide support as the victim recovers," TLC Commissioner Aloysee Heredia Jarmoszuk said in a statement. "Driving for-hire in NYC is a difficult profession and TLC Licensees deserve to be safe in their workplace."
Fernando Mateo of the Taxi Drivers Federation said the job comes with serious risks.
"One of the most dangerous. They're very vulnerable. It's just one person looking forward, and you have a stranger right behind you. You don't know what that stranger is going to do," Mateo said.
"I'd feel scared to pick up anybody," one person told Duddridge.
"A risk that should not be involved in driving a taxi," said another.
The Taxi Drivers Federation said the driver was released from the hospital and is doing well.
Police have not released a description of the woman but said the man is in his 30s and was wearing a black hat and jeans.
Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477), or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). You can also submit a tip via their website or on Twitter, @NYPDTips. All calls are kept confidential.
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