Cab driver shot twice, found dead in parking lot of New Rochelle catering hall
NEW ROCHELLE, Westchester County (WABC) -- An off-duty cab driver was found dead in the parking lot of a Westchester County catering hall early Thursday.
Police say the 62-year-old victim, who works at Express City Taxi, was shot twice outside Juliano's Caterers on Main Street in New Rochelle.
Officers on patrol spotted his body just before 3 a.m.
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He was identified as Andres Valenzuela, of New Rochelle, and he was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead.
A colleague at the taxi service said the victim ended his shift at 2:40 a.m., and his car was still running at the scene hours later.
"He work a long time here at this company," dispatcher Marcos Pazos said. "I don't know what happened. I feel bad."
The taxi cab company parks their cars along the wall adjacent to the catering hall, and three cars -- including the taxi the victim had been driving -- were towed from the scene.
The circumstances leading up to the shooting are unclear at this time, and authorities were looking into whether it may have been a robbery attempt.
The investigation is active and ongoing, and anyone with information is urged to contact the New Rochelle Police Department at 914-654-2300.
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