4 Arrested in Connection with Deadly Livery Cab Robberies in the Bronx

A fourth suspect was arrested in connection with livery cab robberies that left two drivers dead in the Bronx less than two weeks apart, authorities said Saturday.

A driver found dead in front of a Bryant Avenue home shortly after 6 a.m. Tuesday was the second livery cab driver fatally shot in the head in the borough within eight days.

Police said Saturday that a fourth suspect, Tommy Smalls, had been arrested in Manhattan. That followed a day after federal investigators announced that they had arrested Jakiem Ewing, Tyron Felder and Kareem Martin in connection with the killings.

According to the complaint, the men were tracked down using a combination of video surveillance - including footage that shows them dumping cabbie Aboubacar Bah's body on the street - and an informant.

U.S. Attorney Preet Bahara called Bah's killing "senseless and heinous."
 
FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge George Venizelos called the suspects' alleged conduct "beyond deplorable."
 
"As alleged, the defendants as reckless as they were ruthless, indiscriminately assassinating an innocent livery driver trying to earn a living," he said in a statement.

The complaint also says that different guns were used to kill the two cabbies but both guns were used in a May 29 shooting in the Bronx.
 
The complaint also described two robberies in Yonkers on Aug. 5, just before the body of the first cab driver was found on Hunter Avenue.
 
Gun-wielding robbers stole cash, bleach and a cell phone from a minimart, the complaint said. They also targeted a Dunkin' Donuts.

Investigators said they later found Maudo Kane's cab "doused in bleach" with the stolen phone inside.

The New York State Federation of Taxi Drivers decried the slayings, alleging taxi drivers have been at increased risk since the end of stop-and-frisk.

Martin's attorney, Mark de Marco, would not comment on the case. It wasn't immediately clear if Smalls had a lawyer. Calls to the other suspects' lawyers were not immediately returned.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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