In the early hours of Monday (March 24th), a taxi driver in Brooklyn, New York, faced a life-threatening situation as a passenger shot at his face following a dispute. Fortunately, the bullet grazed his face, narrowly missing any life-threatening injuries. The New York State Federation of Taxi Drivers is offering a $5,000 reward for the capture of the suspect and urging prosecutors, judges, and the governor to punish the criminal severely.
According to reports from Fox News and other media outlets, at around 1:30 am on Monday, Price Ezenekwe, a 54-year-old Nigerian driver, picked up a slender young black male passenger near East 101st Street and Flatlands Avenue in Brooklyn. After a while, the passenger claimed to have left something behind and demanded the driver to turn back to the pickup location.
Ezenekwe suggested the passenger walk back to the pickup spot, leading to an argument that escalated into violence. The passenger then got out of the car, pulled out a gun, and fired at Ezenekwe’s face, causing a minor injury as the bullet narrowly missed a critical artery, saving his life.
“I could have lost my life,” Ezenekwe said at a press conference held by NYSTD, “It’s terrifying… I’ve never seen anything like this up close before.”
NYSTD spokesperson, Fernando Mateo, announced the $5,000 reward for anyone providing information leading to the arrest of the gunman and called on the community to assist in the capture.
“Price is a remarkable driver, and this is not just a warning. This is a call for justice,” he said, “Our drivers put their lives at risk every night, and today, Price almost paid the ultimate price. The person who shot at Price should be behind bars, not roaming free due to bail reform failures; what we need is action, not excuses.”
Mateo specifically mentioned Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Ganzalez, judges, and the governor, urging them to ensure that the criminals are punished severely.
The hunt for the suspect is ongoing, with no description provided by the authorities. Ezenekwe described the perpetrator as a slender black male in his twenties, dressed in all black, standing approximately 5 feet 4 inches tall.