Cabbies remember murdered taxi driver

GETZVILLE, N.Y. (WIVB) - A memorial service was held Thursday at a mosque in Getzville for a Buffalo cab driver found murdered inside his taxi on Wednesday.

Buffalo Police have been acting on leads, trying to track down the killer or killers of 55-year-old Mazen Abdallah. A solemn ceremony was held for all who knew the popular driver.

Two families came together to mourn the death of the Airport Taxi driver. His own immediate family - he had brothers, but no wife or children - and the family of taxi drivers who consider themselves brothers.

Airport Taxi driver Alex Agha said, "Nice person. Everybody liked him. Joked with everybody."

Airport Taxi driver Mohinder Chohan added, "He was very good man. Everybody loved with him. Everybody playing with him."

"He's being remembered as everybody's best friend. Someone to talk with. Someone to turn to. Someone always to rely on," said Airport Taxi spokesman Frank Bona.

Abdallah was shot in the head in the early morning hours on Wednesday, after picking up a customer on Perry Street in Buffalo, who wanted to go to the Kensington-Bailey area. Abdallah was was found by a fellow cab driver on Norfolk Avenue in the city. Other drivers had begun searching for him when he couldn't be reached on the two-way radio or by cellphone.

Buffalo Chief of Detectives Dennis Richards said, "Often times cabbies come to each other's assistance when there's trouble or when they go missing."

Robbery may have been the motive. Abdallah is believed to have been carrying $75 to $100.

"Buffalo Police is working very hard on the investigation. They are staying in touch with us. They do have a few strong leads. At this point, I can't say much more about that," Bona said.

Buffalo Police will only say they are piecing some things together.