Murdered cab driver made one last call

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - The death of cab driver Mazen Abdallah has taken a toll on his family members, both his immediate family as well as his extended family of fellow tax drivers.

Buffalo Police are pursuing all leads in the murder. Abdallah was shot in the head last week after picking up a fare on Perry Street. Taxi drivers may soon post a reward for the capture and conviction of the killer or killers.

Abdallah's cousin, Zuhair Rizeq, said, "People are still on the loose and running out there. You know, we are afraid they would commit another brutal act."

Rizeq was among the first to find his cousin face down on the back floor of his taxi.

"Tried to scream at him, wake him up and do something," Rizeq recalled.

Sources say Abdallah may have been carrying more than a thousand dollars, a lease payment he planned to make for his cab.

Much of the money Abdallah earned was sent home to his mother on the West Bank in Jerusalem. She underwent a successful operation but then had a terrible setback after learning of her son's death.

Fawwaz Abdallah, the victim's brother, said, "She had a stroke because of the news of the death of my brother."

Mazen Abdallah also had also helped his other brother through cancer treatments. Now his family is crying out for justice.

"We're seeking justice. We don't want the crime to repeat, to go after another innocent person," Fawwaz said.

Sources say the phone number used by Abdallah's customers to call the dispatcher has been documented.

The victim also made one last call from his own cell phone. When the dispatcher responded, there was silence on the other end.