Roberto Gonzales
August 24, 2004
New Orleans, Louisiana
WWLTV.com Wednesday, August 25, 2004 N.O. cab driver found shot inside of his car A cab driver was found shot to death inside of his vehicle early Wednesday morning in the 1200 block of Alvar Street in New Orleans. According to investigators, officers responded to a call of a man shot and found the victim inside of his Yellow cab, suffering from apparent gunshot wounds to his head and body. He was pronounced dead on the scene. Investigators said the cab had struck another vehicle before coming to rest. The identity of the 67-year-old victim is being withheld pending family notification. ++++++++++++++++++++++++
Police: Robbery Was Motive In Cab Driver's Shooting Death
POSTED: 9:24 am CDT August 25, 2004
UPDATED: 4:55 pm CDT August 25, 2004
NEW ORLEANS -- New Orleans police are looking for the person who gunned down a 56-year-old cab driver Tuesday night.
Police said the shooting happened shortly before midnight in the 1200 block of Alvar Street, where Alberto Gonzales had gone to pick up a fare.
"We believe, based on the preliminary investigation, that his fare or someone else got into the back of the cab, and at some point in the block, he was shot in the head," said New Orleans Police Department spokesman Capt. Marlon Defillo.
Officers said the cabbie was in the car when he was shot several times. His cab then hit a parked car before coming to a stop. The victim was pronounced dead at the scene.
News of the murder spread quickly to other cab drivers. Robert Pierre moved to the city from Miami and has been working for Yellow Cab for two weeks. He said the murder makes him think about moving back.
"The thought comes to my head," Pierre said. "It's scary. We shouldn't have to live this way when we're just trying to support our family and make a living."
Police think robbery was the motive. They have no suspects.
Anyone with information is asked to call Crimestoppers at (504) 822-1111.
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WWLTV.com
05:33 PM CDT on Wednesday, August 25, 2004
N.O. cabbie murdered on Taxi Driver Appreciation Day
A 56-year-old cab driver was shot and killed after picking up a fare in New Orleans on the same day that the city was honoring drivers with a first-ever Taxi Driver Appreciation Day.
According to police, independent cab driver Roberto Gonzalez picked up a rider near the 1200 block of Alvar just after midnight, and shortly thereafter he was shot several times in the face and body in an apparent robbery attempt. Gonzalez was pronounced dead on the scene.
Cab drivers said the irony of a fellow driver being killed on the same day they were being honored underscores the dangers of their job.
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WWLTV.com
12:25 PM CDT on Thursday, August 26, 2004
Two arrested in cabbie killing
Two men have been arrested and another is being sought in the killing of cab driver Roberto Gonzalez early Wednesday.
Police said 22-year-old Jarvis Turner and 18-year-old Gerard Steward were picked up and booked with first-degree murder late Wednesday night. Zakendrick Williams, 18, is being sought on similar charges.
A police spokesman said both of the arrested suspects are fingering each other as the gunman.
According to police, Gonzalez picked up a fare in the 1200 block of Alvar just after midnight Wednesday and as the passenger was getting inside, the suspects came up to the cab and attempted to rob Gonzalez.
The cabbie was found dead inside of his taxi, the victim of several gunshots to the face and body.
Police said a gun was recovered from one of the suspects and it is being tested.
Gonzalez was killed on the city’s first Taxi Driver Appreciation Day and cabbies said it underscores how dangerous their job can be.
++++++++++++++++++++++ http://www.wwltv.com/local/stories/WWL082604arrested.b5c47d44.html WWLTV.com 06:00 PM CDT on Thursday, August 26, 2004 Three in custody in cabbie killing Three men are in custody in the killing of cab driver Roberto Gonzales early Wednesday. Police said 22-year-old Jarvis Turner and 18-year-old Gerard Steward were picked up and booked with first-degree murder. Zakendrick Williams, 18, was in St. James Parish Prison on unrelated charges, according to police spokesperson Jonette Williams. Police Captain Marlon Defillo said both Turner and Steward were fingering each other as the gunman. According to police, Gonzales went to pick up a fare in the 1200 block of Alvar just after midnight Wednesday and the suspects came up to the cab and attempted to rob him. Gonzales was found dead inside of his taxi, the victim of several gunshots to the face and body. Police said immediately after the killing, they established a perimeter around the scene and detained and then released Turner. Following that, they said there was a report of a similar crime nearby and that cab driver identified Turner as the robber in his case. Following the identification, police secured a warrant for Turner's home and arrested him late Wednesday night. Steward was arrested early Thursday. According to police, a 45 caliber pistol believed to be the weapon used in the killing, was found inside Turner's home. It is being tested. Gonzales was killed on the city's first Taxi Driver Appreciation Day and cabbies said it underscores how dangerous their job can be. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ bill huey wrote: > http://www.nola.com/search/index.ssf?/base/news-4/109350089472230.xml?nola > > Gonzales' wife, Inez Gonzales, said he was born in Honduras but came to New > Orleans at a young age and had driven cabs for Checker, White Fleet, United > and Liberty Bell, as well as doing several stints as a horse-and-buggy driver > in the French Quarter -- all sandwiched between tours in the Army and Marine > Corps. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ WDSU Channel 6 (New Orleans, Louisiana) August 26, 2004 Police Arrest 2 In Cab Driver's Shooting Death POSTED: 9:24 am CDT August 25, 2004 UPDATED: 1:19 pm CDT August 26, 2004 NEW ORLEANS -- New Orleans police have two people in custody and are looking for a third in connection with the Tuesday night shooting death of a 56-year-old cab driver. Jarvis Turner, 22, and Gerard Steward, 18, face first-degree murder, armed robbery and weapons charges. Police are looking for 18-year-old Zakendrick J. Williams. Police said the shooting happened shortly before midnight in the 1200 block of Alvar Street, where Alberto Gonzales had gone to pick up a fare. "We believe, based on the preliminary investigation, that his fare or someone else got into the back of the cab, and at some point in the block, he was shot in the head," said New Orleans Police Department spokesman Capt. Marlon Defillo. Gonzales was pronounced dead at the scene. Immediately following the shooting, officers established a perimeter that extended several blocks. They detained and released an individual, later identified as Turner, because there was not enough evidence to hold him. Meanwhile, on Monday night a cab driver was robbed on Marais Street under similar circumstances. Investigators contacted the victim in that case and conducted a photographic line-up using Turner's information. The victim immediately identified Turner as the robbery suspect and a warrant for his arrest was issued. Turner was taken into custody Wednesday night at his 6th Street home. Information then was developed on Steward as a second suspect. He was arrested at his home at 1136 France St. Thursday at 6 a.m. Police are seeking tips and offering a reward for information on the whereabouts of Williams, whose home address is not known. As the investigation progressed, detectives found a .45 caliber pistol believed to be the weapon used in the Marais Street robbery and in Gonzales' killing, police said. Turner allegedly confessed to his participation in both crimes. Steward allegedly confessed to his participation in the murder of Gonzales. News of the murder spread quickly to other cab drivers. Robert Pierre moved to the city from Miami and has been working for Yellow Cab for two weeks. He said the murder makes him think about moving back. "The thought comes to my head," Pierre said. "It's scary. We shouldn't have to live this way when we're just trying to support our family and make a living." ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ The Times-Picayune (New Orleans, Louisiana) August 27, 2004 3 suspects nabbed in cabbie's shooting Driver killed in 9th Ward Friday, August 27, 2004 By Walt Philbin Staff writer Two New Orleans men were arrested and a third man is being held in St. James Parish in the shooting death of a cabdriver Tuesday night in the 9th Ward. Jarvis Turner, 22, 1917 Sixth St., and Gerard Steward, 18, 1136 France St., were arrested at their homes Wednesday night and Thursday morning, and booked with first-degree murder in the shooting of Roberto Gonzales, 56, of eastern New Orleans. Turner was also booked with the robbery of another cabdriver Monday night and with possession of a .45-caliber pistol thought to have been used in the killing. A third suspect, Zakendrick J. Williams, address unknown, was located Thursday afternoon in a St. James Parish jail on unrelated charges. He is being held on a murder warrant secured by New Orleans police. Gonzales was dispatched Tuesday at 11:34 p.m. to the 1000 block of Alvar Street after someone called Yellow Cab asking for a taxi, police said. Detectives think the call was made with the intent to rob the cabdriver, but have not established who made the call, police said. When Gonzales arrived in the 1000 block, one or more of the suspects got into the back seat, police said. Detectives think the robbery attempt began in the 1000 block. After he was shot, Gonzales drove on for a short distance before striking a parked car in the 1200 block of Alvar. He died in the cab of gunshot wounds to the head and body, authorities said. It's not clear whether the robbers got any money, police said. The arrests came from "good, old-fashioned police work, Deputy Police Chief Marlon Defillo said. Fifth District patrol officers responded quickly after receiving a call about a shooting. They set up a perimeter of several blocks. Tactical Patrol officers saw Turner within that area and detained him briefly to question him, taking his name down before releasing him, police said. Noting that a cabdriver had been robbed the night before only a few blocks away, in the 4200 block of Marais Street, 5th District Detective Claude Nixon contacted that victim, who picked Turner out of a group of photographs as the man who had committed the robbery on Marais Street, police said. Detectives arrested Turner at his home Wednesday about 11:30 p.m., and found a .45-caliber pistol, which police said was used in Gonzales' shooting and the robbery Monday night. Police wouldn't disclose whether the gun was linked to the shooting through ballistics, statements by one or more of the suspects, or other evidence. Defillo said Turner told police that he, Steward and Williams participated in the killing of Gonzales and that he was involved in the previous robbery. Police arrested Steward at his home Thursday about 6 a.m. Steward also admitted he participated in the Alvar Street crime, police said. . . . . . . . Walt Philbin can be reached at wphilbin@timespicayune.com or (504) 826-3302. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++ August 24, 2004 Roberto Gonzales (Age 56) Shot to death Yellow-Checker Cab Co. 1000 block of Alvar St., New Orleans, LA (Orleans Parish) Summary information courtesy of: Nancy Burris, Head Librarian The Times-Picayune LLC June 18, 2007
From New Orleans Metro Crime and Courts News - September 11, 2009
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