Man, 76, Arrested for Allegedly Shooting N.Y.C. Cab Driver After Dispute Over $40 Fare

An elderly man was arrested after authorities allege he shot and wounded his New York City cab driver due to an apparent fare dispute.

Joseph Meeks, 76, allegedly shot the 27-year-old cab driver in the abdomen just after 4:30 p.m. on Monday, July 14 in the Highbridge section of the Bronx, the NYPD said in a statement shared with PEOPLE. 

According to ABC7 New York and the New York Daily News, officials said the shooting happened after Meeks allegedly refused to pay the $40 fare. Meeks had reportedly used four different credit cards to pay for the ride, each of which did not work, said Fernando Mateo, a spokesperson for the New York State Federation of Taxi Drivers, the Daily News reported.

An argument ensued and both men got out of the car. When the cab driver, identified as Alusine Barrie, got back into the car, Meeks allegedly shot him, ABC7 reported, citing officials.

The NYPD said EMS responded to the scene and brought the victim to a local hospital in stable condition. “A person of interest was taken into custody and the investigation remains ongoing,” police said in the statement.

According to the Daily News, officials said Meeks fled to his residence near the shooting scene.

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Meeks was arrested on an attempted murder charge. It’s unclear if he has entered a plea or retained an attorney to speak on his behalf.

“This young man sadly has had to fight for his life because of a senseless and totally unacceptable act of violence,” Taxi & Limousine Commission head David Do said in a statement shared with PEOPLE. “We are thankful that he’s in stable condition and reaching out to him to offer support. We also applaud the NYPD officers who rapidly apprehended the suspect.”