3 Teens Charged in Shooting Death of N.Y. Livery Driver

Three teenagers were arrested Saturday and charged in the shooting death of a livery cab driver who was the ninth driver to be killed in the city this year.

Felicia Fields, 18, Charles Rhodes, 17, and Tyriek Cross, 17, were each charged with second-degree murder. Cesar Lopez, 43, was shot in the back of his head while in his car Friday morning, said Sgt. Victor Ramos.

The number of livery drivers killed in the first four months of the year has almost reached last year’s total of 11.

Lopez did not have a bulletproof partition in his car, and police say he had picked up two passengers who hailed him on the street--a widespread practice that violates city rules for livery drivers. Livery cabs are supposed to be summoned by a phone call to the company, unlike regular yellow taxis that are hailed on the street.