A Brooklyn car-service driver was shot during an overnight robbery and attempted carjacking, according to police, turning a routine fare into a crime scene and rattling drivers who make their living on late-night streets. The gunman took off after pulling the trigger, and detectives have been canvassing the neighborhood for clues, reigniting long-standing fears about the safety of livery and rideshare drivers working solo in the dark.
In a video report, CBS News New York’s Doug Williams spoke with the victim’s brother while investigators searched for the gunman, as reported by CBS News New York. The coverage, presented primarily in video form, shows family members pleading with anyone who knows anything to step up and talk to police.
Police Search Continues
Authorities have not announced any arrests and say the investigation is still active. Detectives are combing the area for surveillance footage and knocking on doors in hopes that someone saw or recorded something useful.
Anyone with tips or video is urged to contact the NYPD. The department’s public guidance directs callers to the Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS.
Part Of A Worrying Pattern
The shooting is the latest incident involving drivers in Brooklyn this month. A rideshare driver was shot in the face on July 11 in Prospect Lefferts Gardens after a passenger allegedly demanded money and car keys, according to coverage by News 12 New York, which reported the driver is expected to recover.
Local reporting and police data show transit-related crime and attacks on transit workers have risen in some Brooklyn precincts earlier this year, a trend highlighted by Brooklyn Paper. Drivers and safety advocates say the recent string of incidents is exactly what they have been warning about, and they argue it strengthens calls for better protections and quicker follow-through on violent cases.
Detectives are continuing to canvass the area and review surveillance footage. Anyone who witnessed the shooting or has video that could help the investigation is asked to contact local detectives or NYPD Crime Stoppers.
