METAIRIE, LOUISIANA — In the early hours of Monday, a taxi driver successfully defended himself against an armed robbery attempt. The incident occurred less than 10 miles west of New Orleans, a city grappling with a significant rise in crime rates recently.
Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office reported that the assailant, armed with a handgun, attempted to rob the taxi driver shortly before 1 a.m. The driver, who was armed himself, retaliated, shooting the suspect multiple times. The alleged robber, identified as 23-year-old Gerald Pope, died at the scene.
The sheriff’s office has deemed the incident a justifiable homicide, with spokesman Capt. Jason Rivarde stating that the driver faced a direct threat to his life. Pope is suspected to have been involved in two similar robberies of cab drivers from the same company within the past week, based on descriptions given in those cases.
