Taxi driver lucky to be alive after gun attack

Today he is alive in a stable condition, but last Friday could have been Charles Peters’ last day on earth.{{more}}

Peters, 59, taxi operator of Fairhall, was shot in his lower left chest at about 10:30 p.m. at Choppins after he had just picked up his stepdaughter from work.

When SEARCHLIGHT visited Peters at his bedside at the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital, he said that he had just gone to pick up his stepdaughter from work at Fountain. After dropping her home, Peter said he stayed at the house for a while and went to sit on a wall.

The visibly aching man said he saw someone in a white t-shirt walking coming up the road. “The same time the dog started barking and rushed at him, so I went to hold the dog so he could pass,” said Peters. Peters said that the man was just standing there arguing and would not pass although he was holding back the dog. “After he getting on, I tell him go way yo going na.”

After his refusal to pass, Peters said he released the dog and went back to his van. “When I going in the van, one of my foot was halfway outside and then all I cud see is de man come by my window and say stick it up and handover what yo have.” Peters recalled that he held on to the mouth of the gun and started wrestling with the man. “After me and he was fighting up, de gun fired up and hit me in ma chest.” Peters said that he shouted to his girlfriend, “Bev, Bev, ah geh shoot.” He was quickly rushed to the hospital.

Peters, who has been operating taxi since 1969, said it was the first time such a thing happened to him. He warned all taxi drivers that, “it is a dangerous business and to exercise caution.”

So far, Police have made no arrest in the matter and investigations are still ongoing.

Peters shooting wasn’t the only one that occurred that night, Niron Browne, 44, mason of Arnos Vale was shot in the left leg after being robbed of his bangle and gold chain around 10:30 p.m. at Arnos Vale.

Police told SEARCHLIGHT that Browne was on his way home when a masked man held him up at gunpoint took his belongings and shot him in his leg. Browne was said to be in a stable condition at the Milton Cato Memorial hospital.

No arrests have yet been made and investigations are still ongoing.