Man charged after NYC taxi driver carjacked at gunpoint in Midtown Manhattan

LOWER MANHATTAN (WABC) -- A man armed with a firearm carjacked a taxi driver in Midtown Manhattan early Sunday morning, fleeing the scene before police tracked the stolen cab to Lower Manhattan and took a person of interest into custody, authorities said.

The incident occurred around 12:30 a.m. at 450 W. 33rd St., according to police.

Officers responding to a 911 call were told by the victim, a 53-year-old male taxi driver, that he was parked at the location when an unidentified man entered his cab and displayed a firearm. The suspect then fled northbound on 10th Avenue in the stolen vehicle.

Police tracked the taxi to the intersection of Canal Street and Lafayette Street, in the 5th Precinct. The vehicle was recovered at that location.

A person of interest was taken into custody. Police have arrested and now charged Joseph Ryce, 28, in connection to the incident.

Ryce is charged with robbery, grand larceny, reckless engagement and unlawful fleeing a police officer in a motor vehicle. He is also facing charges of criminal possession of stolen property, menacing, obstructing governmental administration and unauthorized use of a vehicle.

No injuries were reported during the incident, police said.

Eyewitness News spoke with a man who says he was working when he witnessed the crash.

"A lot of cars," the man said. "I see all the red, I'm scared, oh my god, what happened."

Authorities are now trying to determine a motive for the carjacking as part of their investigation.

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