A passenger shot a livery cab driver in the neck then fled from the car after it smashed into a Brooklyn Heights brownstone on New Year’s Eve, police said.
A 19-year-old Bronx resident asked the taxi driver to stop on Willow Street near Clark Street in the quiet neighborhood at around 10:30 pm, according to cops. As the cab slowed to a halt, the passenger allegedly asked for change then pulled out a gun and shot the 43-year-old cabbie, causing him to swerve into the house.
“He heard a gunshot and realized he was hit, then lost control and crashed,” a police source said.
That’s when the gunman jumped out of the tan sedan and ran away, according to a witness.
“A few seconds [after the accident] a guy came out of the car and took off,” said onlooker Juan Rivera. “It was pretty scary.”
Police say they arrested the shooter as he tried to run down the Promenade. Cops charged him with robbery, assault, and criminal possession of a weapon.
As of press time, the suspect was being held at Riker’s Island on $300,000 bail. His next scheduled court appearance is Jan. 6.
Cops did not release the victim’s name, but said he is in stable condition at Lutheran Medical Center.
Reach reporter Daniel Bush at [email protected] or by calling (718) 260-8310. Follow him at twitter.com/dan_bush.
