A Brooklyn livery cab driver is lucky to be alive after being shot in the face during a dispute with a passenger early on Monday morning, law enforcement sources said.
Police reported that the shooting occurred near the corner of East 101st Street and Flatlands Avenue in Canarsie just before 1:40 a.m. on March 24.
Based on a preliminary investigation, police learned that the victim, a 54-year-old man, picked up the shooting suspect moments earlier and two blocks away near East 101st Street and Glenwood Road.
During the short ride, however, the perpetrator engaged the driver in a verbal argument, sources familiar with the investigation said. The beef turned bloody, cops reported, when the passenger pulled out a gun and opened fire, with the bullet grazing the driver in the face.
According to published reports, the passenger fled the vehicle at the corner of East 101st Street and Flatlands Avenue. The wounded driver, meanwhile, drove himself to Brookdale University Hospital for treatment.
Officers from the 69th Precinct responded to the hospital after staff reported to the shooting to police. Law enforcement sources said the victim was listed in stable condition and received a number of stitches to close the wound.
So far, no arrests have been made in the ongoing investigation. Police have yet to provide a description of the shooting suspect.
Anyone with information regarding the shooting can call Crime Stoppers at 800-577-TIPS (for Spanish, dial 888-57-PISTA). You can also submit tips online at crimestoppers.nypdonline.org, or on X (formerly Twitter) @NYPDTips. All calls and messages are kept confidential.
