2 men, 1 girl arrested, charged in New York City taxi driver's beating death

Thursday, August 18, 2022

2 men, 1 girl arrested, charged in taxi driver's beating death

Two 20-year-old men and a 15-year-old girl have been arrested by police and are facing charges in the beating death of a New York City taxi driver.

FAR ROCKAWAY, Queens (WABC) -- Two 20-year-old men and a 15-year-old girl have been arrested by police and are facing charges in the beating death of a New York City taxi driver.

Austin Amos walked into the 101st Precinct stationhouse in Far Rockaway, Queens, Wednesday night, accompanied by his mother, after investigators released video of the suspects wanted in the death of 52-year-old Kutin Gyimah.

Police say Gyimah hit his head on the ground during an altercation with fare-evading passengers Saturday.

Amos is charged with manslaughter, gang assault, assault and theft of services. He has six prior arrests, including robbery, criminal mischief, criminal contempt and sexual misconduct.

Two 20-year-old men have surrendered to police and are facing charges in the beating death of a New York City taxi driver.

The second man, 20-year-old Nickolas Porter, also arrived at the precinct Wednesday night, and was charged with gang assault and theft of services.

A 15-year-old girl was arrested and also charged with gang assault and theft of services.

A 13-year-old girl is still being sought for her alleged role in the attack and is also expected to be charged with gang assault once she is taken into custody.

Detectives say they know her identity and are looking for her.

A 16-year-old girl initially identified by detectives is currently being treated as a witness.

Detectives believe Amos landed the final blow on the taxi driver, sending him to the pavement and potentially causing his death.

Surveillance video shows the moment Gyimah was punched and fell on his head. His wife, Abigail Gyimah, said she was relieved at the news of the arrest.

"He was my children's hero," she said. "He was my backbone. He was the one I looked up to. I look up to God, but aside God, he was the only one I looked up to. And now, his life has just been cut short just like that."

The couple has four children ages 3, 5, 7 and 8.

"He was my backbone," she said over the weekend. "I'm lost right now. My children here. I don't know what to do right now. I am lost. I am lost in this world."

The widow of a taxi driver who died after fatally striking his head on the ground during an altercation with fare-evading passengers spoke out Sunday. Johny Fernandez has the story

Gyimah's coworkers described him as a man who worked restlessly, especially during the height of the coronavirus pandemic.

"This gentleman drove his cab, he never stopped taking passengers," fellow driver Spyros Drakos said. "This, to me, is a hero, like the first responders. If a doctor, a nurse, someone, a family member needed to get somewhere, he was driving the cab, and he never stopped."

According to police, when Kutin Gyimah let five passengers out near Beach 54th Street and Avenue Boulevard in Edgemere just before 6:30 a.m. instead of paying the fare, they tried to rob him.

Police said Gyimah chased after them and was attacked.

He suffered a severe head injury and was taken to St. John's Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

"Her husband went to work...like he did every day at 5 a.m., and he's never coming back," said Fernando Mateo, of the New York State Federation of Taxi Drivers said. "This guy picked them up to take them where they wanted to go. Why kill the man?"

The federation is also raising money to help the Gyimah family pay for the funeral with a GoFundMe page.

MORE NEWS | Surgery a success for 6-month-old with rare eye condition