Police arrested three suspects – including two teens – and charged them with robbing and shooting a Charlotte taxi driver on Wednesday.

Police identified the suspects as Joshaih Les Corey Knox, 17; Romaine Donlee Davis, 18; and Sammy Davis, 21.

The victim, 52-year-old veteran cab driver William Strickland, reportedly underwent surgery Wednesday night at Carolinas Medical Center after suffering a bullet wound to the head. His condition could not be immediately determined.

The three suspects were being held in the Mecklenburg jail, charged with assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill, inflicting serious injury and robbery with a dangerous weapon and conspiracy to commit robbery with a dangerous weapon, police say.

Police believe Strickland was dropping the three men off at the Pressley Ridge Apartments on Rose Ridge Place in southwest about noon Wednesday when he was robbed and shot.

Witnesses told police that Strickland got out of his van after he was shot and walked a few feet before collapsing. Since he hadn't shifted the cab into "park," the van rolled slowly into a nearby apartment building.

His three passengers, police say, ran from the cab after the shooting.

A representative from Checker Cab said Thursday morning that the company was waiting to hear from Strickland’s family about his condition.

Known as "Pee Wee" to his fellow cab drivers, Strickland loved driving a cab, say his family and co-workers.

"He just loves the job," Strickland's nephew, Reginald Strickland, 22, said. "He's a very nice, calm person. He'd give you the shirt off his back."
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The Charlotte Observer’s David Perlmutt contributed to this report.
 

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