Police charged a 16-year-old boy in connection with the shooting of a taxi driver in northern Virginia early Thursday.
The young suspect in custody is already a convicted felon.
The shooting happened about 2 a.m. in front of the Foxchase shopping center in the 4600 block of Duke Street in Alexandria. People in the area heard a commotion and looked over to the cab stand, where they saw a taxi and went to investigate. They found the driver there with trauma to the upper body and called 911.
The 47-year-old victim suffered multiple gunshot wounds. He was taken to a hospital and underwent surgery and is in critical condition, fighting for his life.
Investigators are waiting to be able to speak with the victim about what happened.
More than a dozen detectives and police officers combed the area, searching in bushes and dumpsters, to find evident leading them to the 16-year-old suspect.
"It's amazing, especially because the suspect has no connection with the victim," said Crystal Nosal, of the Alexandria Police Department. "It was most likely a robbery attempt gone wrong."
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Spencer Kimball, the owner of Alexandria Yellow Cab, said the victim is one of his employees and has a wife and one son. Kimball gave the following statement to News4:
"The entire Alexandria Yellow Cab family - both our management and our affiliated drivers - were shocked and saddened by the attack on our driver early Thursday morning. He was on duty serving the community when he was shot and seriously injured in a senseless criminal act that has left him in critical condition at this time. Our thoughts and prayers are with him, his family, and the doctors caring for him as he fights for his life in the face of these injuries. AYC would like to offer its heartfelt thanks to the entire Alexandria City Police Department, whose quick and thorough police work lead to the arrest of a suspect in less than 24 hours. AYC will continue to cooperate in any way it can with the police investigation into this tragic crime."
Police charged the teen from Lorton with malicious wounding, use of a firearm in commission of a felony and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
The westbound lanes of Duke Street were temporarily closed in the area but later reopened.
