Ghanaian Cab driver Shot Dead in US

NY, NY, April 19, 2006 (GHP) -- Police are investigating the murder of a Ghanaian livery cab driver on Staten Island Wednesday.

Kwame Appeiguyei was found fatally shot, by a single bullet to the back of the head, just after 3:00 a.m., in his livery car outside an apartment building in Stapleton.

His taxi veered out of control after the seemingly random shooting, ramming a fence before roaring up a staircase outside a building at Vanderbilt and Tompkins Aves. He died instantly, police said.

Investigators believe the veteran cab driver who worked as an independent contractor, was robbed.

Colleagues say the 62-year-old native of Ghana often picked up fares at the ferry terminal. It appears he picked up two passengers who got off the 3:00 a.m. boat. Sources say one of them announced a robbery as he was being dropped off on Vanderbilt Avenue.

The shooting happened at the intersection of Vanderbilt and Tompkins Avenue in the Clifton section. Police say they are questioning someone who claims to have been a passenger in the car when the shooting occurred. He was covered in blood when he was taken to the 120th Precinct. He claims he was robbed along with the driver before the suspect shot the driver. It is unclear however whether this person is indeed a victim and a witness or in some way possibly a suspect.

Police investigators believe a security camera at the ferry terminal recorded the shooter before he got into the taxi. Cops also were retrieving footage from the livery cab's camera late yesterday.

Throughout the morning friends and family, even former passengers have been coming to the scene. They are absolutely stunned and saddened by the murder of a fixture in this community.

Grieving loved ones gathered at Appeiguyei's home on Wednesday evening.

?He is all that we have. In this world, if you take God, my husband is second," said Betty Appeiguyei, the victim?s wife.

"I have older daughters, and he would make sure they got home,? said Dow Kevin Buford, the victim?s neighbor and friend. ?So this is the type of person that you want to be your neighbor. He?s a good community man, a church man, and it's a terrible, terrible loss for the entire community."

Seth Ametefe, Victim's Friend: "It's a sad story. It's unfair."

Kofi Brown, Victim's Nephew: "He is the only person supporting the family. This is my real concern."

Victim's Friend: "Whoever did this should come forward, should just come forward for conviction!"

The former merchant marine leaves behind a wife and two daughters - Angela, 18, and Alexandra, 12. Along with the two younger daughters, he and his wife have five other children who live in Ghana and London. Relatives say he lived on Staten Island and drove cabs for 18 years.