TITUSVILLE, Fla. – A taxi driver shot and killed a passenger inside his cab after being shot in the back of the head during a dispute, according to Titusville police.
The Global Cab driver picked up the passenger, identified as 19-year-old Marize Simone Brooks, on Deleon Avenue around 2 a.m. Wednesday and was asked to drive to an isolated area in the 1100 block of Mockingbird Court, police said.
An argument, possibly over the fare, ensued, and the driver said he was shot before he returned fire, killing the man, according to police.
"I just got shot," the 27-year-old driver told dispatchers.
He was airlifted to Holmes Regional Medical Center.
Police said he was in stable condition Wednesday afternoon.
"He's lucky to be alive," Titusville police Lt. Cleyton Bray said. "The cab driver said the passenger directed him to go to Mockingbird where they had a discussion about the fare. The next thing the cab driver knows is that he is shot."
Titusville police said the case has been reviewed by the state attorney's office and no charges are pending.
There were no witnesses to the shooting.
"I've never had no trouble out here. Never had nothing like this happen," said Vera Dasher, who lives nearby. "It's scary for me because there ain't no telling what might happen the way things are going today."
Police said Brooks has been on probation since February after a grant theft conviction.
Anyone with information on how Brooks obtained the firearm is asked to contact the Titusville Police Department or Crimeline at 800-423-TIPS.