What a bad news as 57 year old cab driver Solomon James Okoroh was shot
dead around 3am yesterday morning Tuesday June 4th in the 2400 block of
Ontario Road, Adams Morgan, by two men who tried to rob him while
riding in his cab, according to DC police.
The murder of Okoroh unfolded
right in front of police, who took off after the suspects and chased them
down under heavy gunfire.
Police say Solomon Okoroh
was murdered around 3:15 a.m. Tuesday after picking up two men in his
cab. Officers working a robbery detail in the neighborhood saw the cab
in distress and then heard the gunshot before it crashed into a sign and
parking meter near Ontario and Kalorama Roads.
The
two suspects bailed out and got into a running gun battle with
officers. Police caught one of them in the street, but the other tried
to hide in a nearby apartment.
"There
were 20 shots fired at them, 20 shots," said Jim Graham, (D-Ward 1) the
D.C. councilmember who represents this part of the city. "The tragedy
is horrible, but the remarkable thing is the police were right here."
Police
caught and arrested both suspects. One of them, 32-year old Ercell
Overton, is charged with first-degree murder, felony assault on a police
officer and burglary. The other suspect, 24-year old Joshua King, is
being held on an unrelated probation violation.
"What
happened was there was an apparent robbery of a cab driver that led to
the murder of that cab driver," Graham said explaining the apparent
motive.
Okoroh had driven for
Classic Cab Company for about 15 years. The company says he had a wife
and five children. He was more than a cabbie to them, he was a friend.
"I
tell you, all cab drivers are scared for this to happen, because say
for $10 or $15 fee, not justified to die," said Chamroeum Muy at Classic
Cab.
Those who knew Okoroh said he had been warned about the dangers, but wasn't one to discriminate.
"This
is very terrible because he is one of the few guys that he will not
pass anybody. He stops for everyone, he stops for anyone," said Evelyn
Ruiz.
She last saw him Saturday when he came by Classic Cab to pick up his insurance card as he did every week.
Okoroh lived in Glenarden, Md. He leaves behind a wife and five
children. His son, Prince, plays basketball at Howard University.
A
friend read a statement from the family saying in part, "We are
saddened such a senseless act took the precious life of Mr. Solomon
Okoroh, a very spiritual man, a deacon that loves his church but more
than that a family man that loves his family."
Police
say the 57-year-old cabbie was shot in the shoulder and later died.
Despite the heavy gunfire, neither the suspects nor police was hit.
