FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP, NJ (Somerset County) – A taxi driver was fatally shot in Franklin Township Thursday night, the victim of an apparent robbery, according to Somerset County Prosecutor John P. McDonald.
On May 11, at around 9:56 p.m., police responded to 9-1-1 call reporting a shooting in the area of Rose Street and Sydney Place, McDonald said.
Responding Officers encountered a taxi driver, later identified as Kofi Addo, 57, of North Brunswick, suffering from a gunshot wound, McDonald said.
The taxi had come to rest after crashing into a parked vehicle which was in a driveway of a residence on Sydney Place, McDonald said.
Police along with Emergency Medical Personnel from an area Trauma Center responded to the scene and performed life saving measures on Addo. He was transported to an area Trauma Center where he was pronounced dead, McDonald said.
The New Jersey Northern Regional Medical Examiner will perform a post-mortem examination to determine cause and manner of death, McDonald said.
Detectives from the Franklin Township Police Department along with the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit, the Crime Scene Investigations Unit, Somerset County Sheriff’s Office K-9 Unit, and Warren Township Police K-9 Unit responded to the scene to conduct the investigation.
A preliminary police investigation has revealed that Addo, while operating a local taxi, responded to the area of Rose Street to pick up a fare. Upon arrival, he was confronted by the suspect(s) while inside the taxi and was subsequently shot. The unknown suspect(s) fled from the scene on foot, McDonald said.
“Preliminary motive indicates robbery. The investigation remains on-going,” McDonald said.
Anyone with information relating to the homicide to contact the Somerset County Prosecutors Office Major Crimes Unit at 908-231-7100 or the Franklin Township Police Department at 732-873-5533 or via the STOPit app. The STOPit app allows citizens to provide anonymous reports including videos and photos. STOPit can be downloaded to your smart phone for free at the Google Play Store or Apple App Store, access code: SOMERSETNJ. Information can also be provided through the Somerset County Crime Stoppers’ Tip Line at 1-888-577-TIPS (8477). All anonymous STOPit reports, and Crime Stopper tips will be kept confidential.
