Veteran Taxi Driver Shot, Left To Die Police Say Robbery Apparent Motive Behind Shooting Death

A Spokane taxi driver was shot and left to die in his cab on the city’s North Side, police said Friday. The killer is on the loose.

The 47-year-old man was killed late Thursday near the intersection of Standard and Hill ‘N’ Dale during an apparent robbery, police said.

A nearby resident called police about 11:45 p.m. after hearing gunshots.

Officers found the driver dead, slumped inside his Lilac City cab, said Dick Cottam, police spokesman.

A witness told police she saw two or three young white men running from the scene, Lt. Jerry Oien said.

The men were all about 18 and wearing “long athletic-type jackets,” Oien said.

Police did not identify the victim Friday, saying his relatives had not been notified.

An autopsy is scheduled for Monday.

Howard Anstine, manager of Spokane’s taxi dispatch center, said the victim had driven cabs in the area for nearly 20 years and was well-liked by his colleagues.

“He was a veteran driver, very knowledgable about what was going on out there,” he said. “He generally worked the night shift.”

The driver picked up a fare at The Onion restaurant and lounge on North Division shortly before he was killed, Anstine said.

Oien said detectives interviewed Onion employees but got no leads.

Anstine described the murder as an anomaly.

“I’ve worked in the taxi business here for 30 years, and this is only the second fatality,” he said.

Driver Bruce Orchard was shot dead in a vacant lot in the Spokane Valley on May 1, 1993. The killer then set the taxi on fire.

Jerome Honton was later sentenced to life in prison after being convicted of the murder.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Color Photo; Map of neighborhood