The NYPD is searching for the person who shot a taxi driver on the job, then took off running. The shooting happened Monday morning in Canarsie, near East 101st Street and Flatlands Avenue. The driver said it was a miracle he survived with only a graze wound. NBC New York’s Charles Watson reports.
A taxi driver is recovering Monday morning after being shot in the face during a dispute with a passenger in Canarsie, Brooklyn, the NYPD said.
The 54-year-old driver for a private car service said he got in an argument with his passenger so he pulled the car over and the passenger got out. A moment later, the driver said he heard a gunshot and realized he had a graze wound to his face, according to police.
The dispute occurred around 1:40 a.m. near East 101st Street and Flatlands Avenue, police said. The driver said he picked up the passenger, confirmed his name and drop-off location, and started driving. Shortly after, the passenger — who was wearing a mask — claimed to have left something and requested to be taken back home.
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WATCH HEREThe driver, later identified as Prince Ezenekwe, said he refused to do so for safety reasons, but offered to wait for the man who had since become belligerent, threatening to kill and rob Ezenekwe. Moments later, Ezenekwe said the man got out of the car and pointed a gun at his head.
"I don’t know how I did it but I had to make a decision to hit the gas," said Ezenekwe. "That’s how he fired the gun and missed my head."
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SIGN UP Ezenekwe called 911 and was able to drive himself to Brookdale Hospital, where he is in stable condition.
"I ain’t supposed to be speaking to you right now. I ain’t supposed to be alive," said Ezenekwe, adding it's nothing short of a miracle he is still alive. "I’m the luckiest man alive."
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The New York State Federation of Taxi Drivers is offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the gunman, claiming the whole ordeal was a setup.
“Prince is a Miracle Driver, this is not just a wake-up call—it’s a demand for justice. Our drivers risk their lives every night, and today, Prince nearly paid with his life," a spokesperson for the taxi federation said in a statement.
The union also called on New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and elected officials to make stricter bail laws for violent criminals and ban ski masks in taxis.
Police said they do not have a description of the gunman and the investigation is continuing. It's unclear what may have led up to the dispute.
