Malcolm Gomes
June 2, 2000
Phoenix, Arizona

The Arizona Republic
(Phoenix, Arizona)
August 3, 2007

Shooter sought in slaying of cabdriver in Glendale

Aug. 3, 2007 12:00 AM

The headline in the June 4, 2000, edition of The Arizona 
Republic read, "Slayer of cabdriver in Glendale is sought."

The story began: "Glendale police on Saturday were searching 
for a man who shot and killed a Phoenix cabdriver late Friday 
and then stole a car in a nearby strip mall."

When and where: The victim, Malcolm Gomes, 50, who worked 
for Phoenix-based AAA Cab, was shot June 2, 2000, police said.

He later died at a Phoenix hospital, leaving behind a wife and 
three children.

Gomes was gunned down near the 6400 block of West Olive 
Avenue during an attempted robbery, police said.

Summary: The killer, a young man with what police described as 
"spiky" hair, struggled with Gomes before shooting him with a 
handgun.

Police said after Gomes was shot, his white cab swerved and 
screeched to a halt near a block wall.

The killer then ran to a nearby strip mall, where he carjacked a 
red Plymouth Laser. The woman driving the car was unharmed 
and provided police with information that was used to make a 
composite sketch of the killer.

More than a month later, the getaway car was found in Yavapai 
County, marking a breakthrough in the case.

A hunter discovered the vehicle south of Cleator, a remote 
community in the Bradshaw Mountains northwest of Phoenix, 
police said. It was covered with underbrush near an abandoned 
mine.

The car was dumped in such a remote place that detectives 
believed the person who left it must have been familiar with the 
area, according to police.

Crime technicians traveled to the rugged spot between Bumble 
Bee and Crown King and spent several hours processing the 
vehicle for evidence.

Police described the killer as White or Hispanic, about 16 to 20 
years old, with a thin build and short, brown hair.

Investigator: Detective Roger Geisler, a cold-case investigator 
for the Glendale Police Department.

What bothers him most: "This is a heinous crime," Geisler said. 
"This is a killer who needs to be caught. I can't understand why 
somebody would have shot this cabdriver."

New technology's role in this case: Investigators are trying to 
make a match with DNA evidence collected in the case.

How you can help: To offer information, call the Glendale Police 
Department tip hotline at (623) 930-3399 or send an e-mail to 
coldcase@glendaleaz.com. Anonymous calls also can be made 
to Silent Witness at 1-800-343-TIPS.

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