Authorities in New York City have offered a reward for information that could lead to the arrest of suspects who killed a Ghanaian taxi driver after they tried to rob him. The New York Police Department said the suspects who killed 52-year-old Kutin Gyimah were passengers he had picked up, CNN reported.
Different organizations have tabled a combined amount of $18,500 as a reward for any information that could lead to the arrest of the suspects. Police said the fatal Saturday encounter occurred after Gyimah dropped the passengers off at their destination. But the passengers allegedly attempted to rob him.
Police said at least one of the passengers hit Gyimah after he tried to pursue them, adding that he sustained a head injury and lost consciousness after he fell on the ground. He was later pronounced dead at a hospital.
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“I have no words to describe him,” the deceased taxi driver’s widow, Abby Gyimah, told WABC at a press conference on Sunday. “He was a good man. He was a good, good man.”
Authorities are yet to make any arrests. “Probably was the first fare of his day. It was probably the first person that he picked up and guess what—it was the last person that he picked up,” a spokesperson for the New York State Federation of Taxi Drivers, Fernando Mateo, said. “Because his life was taken away. For what? For money?”
A GoFundMe has been set to help raise funds to support the victim’s family. Over $100,000 has so far been raised. The federation has also raised an additional $10,000 for the family, Mateo said.
“It was a horrible crime,” Mateo said. “We lost an amazing man.”
Besides the reward offer from the organizations, the NYPD CrimeStoppers is also offering up to $3,500 for tips that could assist with investigations in the case.
“Violence will not be tolerated in our city, which is why we’re working every day to get violent criminals off our streets. We extend our deepest condolences to the victim’s family, friends, and coworkers during this painful time and we will work diligently to bring all people responsible to justice,” the City Hall said in a statement.
