Excellent Car Service driver Cesar Santos was fatally shot by a passenger Sunday in Kingsbridge after they began arguing over the ride's fare. Santos picked up the two suspects at 2857 Sedgwick Avenue around 1:40 p.m., after which they argued and Santos was shot once in the stomach. The suspects fled, and Santos was brought to St. Barnabas hospital, where he was pronounced dead around 9:30 p.m. President of the New York State Federation of Taxi Drivers Jose Viloria told WPIX, "There is no reason for killing a person for pennies."
Federation spokesman Fernando Mateo said this is a sad reminder that livery cab drivers should be careful picking up random "hails," and should stick to assigned rides. He told the Daily News, "We're letting drivers know that picking up 'hails' in the street is not the safest way to do business. When you pick up strangers, unfortunately, you don't know what the dangers are." Santos was a father and a grandfather, and his wife "hasn't stopped crying" since learning of his death.
A security camera in Santos' cab was able to capture images of the two suspects, described as Hispanic men about 18 to 20 years old. Police are searching for the suspects, and Union Rep Phil Abate said the camera images are "providing the only link that we have to these individuals, any taxi driver that doesn't have one should get one now."
