White car one of few clues in Raleigh cab driver's death
RALEIGH (WTVD) -- Raleigh police are investigating a shooting that happened early Monday morning as a homicide.
About 1:20 a.m., officers were called to the Hodges Creek Apartments in the 2000 block of Hodge Creek Drive, off Old Wake Forest Road.
When they arrived, they found 55-year-old Jose Nicolas Dominguez of Raleigh shot to death. Authorities said he had been a driver for Amigo Taxi for the past seven years and was on duty at the time.
On Monday night, all police could tell ABC11 is that they suspect there was more than one person involved.
Police also have reason to think the suspects fled in a white car.
It's not much to go on, but those who knew Dominguez hope it turns up something.
His coworkers told ABC11 that they believe he was robbed and assaulted.
"He was a great coworker," Amigo taxi driver Joaquin Loyola said. "I still can't believe what happened to him. We're told they wanted to assault him or rob him."
Loyola said Dominguez was responding to a call for pick up early this morning.
He said it is a very dangerous job, especially at night - adding they've both worked overnight shifts and people try to stiff them of cab fares or assault or berate them.
Loyola said he himself was held up at gunpoint 6 months ago.
"Things happen all the time," he said.
Loyola also said that drivers have radios to call for emergencies, but Dominguez never flagged an emergency.
Authorities have not confirmed whether Dominguez was robbed, saying they can't discuss specifics about the case.
Authorities did say a preliminary investigation revealed that multiple suspects were involved in the crime. Descriptions of the suspects are not available at this point, but police said the suspects were thought to have fled the scene in a white car.
Neighbors told ABC11 that officers have been going door to door Monday, asking for what they saw or heard.
"Three o'clock this morning there was banging on my door and its the police, asking if I heard anything," said resident Andrea Tyler. She said she was surprised she didn't hear anything, especially gunshots.
So for now, exactly what happened here at Hodges Creek remains a mystery.
Loyola just knows he lost a friend; one he described as charismatic, happy and always friendly.
Anyone with information is asked to call Raleigh CrimeStoppers at (919) 834-HELP or visit raleighcrimestoppers.org for text and email reporting options.
