Cab driver gunned down in Scarborough identified as 73-year-old man
A taxi driver who crashed his cab and died in hospital after being shot multiple times Sunday has been identified.
Toronto police responded to the area of Pharmacy Avenue and Eglinton Avenue East at around 8:48 p.m. on Oct. 24 after receiving a call about a taxi that has crashed into a fence.
Officers found the cab driver unconscious in the vehicle, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. He was the only occupant of the cab.
He was rushed to hospital via emergency run but eventually died of his injuries.
Police identified the driver Monday as 73-year-old Christopher Jung of Toronto.
Beck Taxi previously confirmed to CP24 Jung was one of their employees and had driven a cab for over 40 years.
“He was a hard-working man. He worked at night. Our condolences absolutely go out to his family and to the larger community,” Kristine Hubbard of Beck Taxi told CP24 earlier in the day. “This kind of thing, it’s a nightmare, and it sends shockwaves through the many thousands of people who not only drive, but whose family members do this work.”
She noted that cab work “has always come with a risk, but this sort of thing is the ultimate nightmare.”
In a statement posted to social media Monday, the taxi company further said “our hearts are broken.”
“We would like to extend our sincere condolences to the family who suffered an unimaginable loss after the death of someone they love,” Beck Taxi said. “Our hearts are with them today. We are working with the police in their investigation and are committed to doing everything we can to assist.”
A man wearing dark clothing was seen fleeing the area, police said. Shell casings were also found nearby.
Hubbard said Beck collects several types of data that might be useful in the investigation.
“We do actually have the technology to track the vehicle. We have all of the trip information. We have the history of anyone who may have been in the vehicle. So we are able to provide a significant amount of information to the police to aid in their investigation,” Hubbard said.
She added that all cabs in Toronto have cameras inside and police will be able to review that footage.
Investigators are asking anyone with additional footage from the area at the time to contact homicide investigators or call Crime Stoppers anonymously.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
More than 115 cases of eye damage reported in Ontario after solar eclipse
More than 115 people who viewed the solar eclipse in Ontario earlier this month experienced eye damage after the event, according to eye doctors in the province.
B.C. seeks ban on public drug use, dialing back decriminalization
The B.C. NDP has asked the federal government to recriminalize public drug use, marking a major shift in the province's approach to addressing the deadly overdose crisis.
Last letters of pioneering climber who died on Everest reveal dark side of mountaineering
George Mallory is renowned for being one of the first British mountaineers to attempt to scale the dizzying heights of Mount Everest during the 1920s. Nearly a century later, newly digitized letters shed light on Mallory’s hopes and fears about ascending Everest.
Orca calf that was trapped in B.C. lagoon for weeks swims free
An orca whale calf that has been stranded in a B.C. lagoon for weeks after her pregnant mother died swam out on her own early Friday morning.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
'I was scared': Ontario man's car repossessed after missing two repair loan payments
An Ontario man who took out a loan to pay for auto repairs said his car was repossessed after he missed two payments.
Powerful tornado tears across Nebraska, weather service warns of 'catastrophic' damage
Devastating tornadoes tore across parts of eastern Nebraska and northeast Texas Friday as a multi-day severe thunderstorm event ramped up in the central United States, injuring at least three people.
Toxic testing standoff: Family leaves house over air quality
A Sherwood Park family says their new house is uninhabitable. The McNaughton's say they were forced to leave the house after living there for only a week because contaminants inside made it difficult to breathe.
Trump's lawyers try to discredit testimony of prosecution's first witness in hush money trial
Donald Trump's defence team attacked the credibility Friday of the prosecution's first witness in his hush money case, seeking to discredit testimony detailing a scheme between Trump and a tabloid to bury negative stories to protect the Republican's 2016 presidential campaign.