Investigation Of Apparent Suicide Near City Hall Closes Brooklyn Bridge
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- A livery cab driver who had posted on social media about health and financial problems committed suicide after driving up to a gate outside City Hall on Monday morning.
The man drove a rented black sedan up to the east gate of City Hall at 7:30 a.m. and shot himself in the head with a shotgun, police said.
He was pronounced dead at the scene.
His name was not released, but sources told 1010 WINS' Sonia Rincon that he was a 61-year-old livery cab driver.
He had posted on Facebook just hours before his death, blasting politicians as well as city and state regulations for keeping him from making a living as a livery cabbie, Rincon reported. He complained that after a decades-long career of driving he was broke, in debt, and in bad health with no insurance.
He said elected leaders like the current and past mayor and governor had allowed the city to become flooded with for-hire vehicles, making it impossible for those like him to survive. He said he planned to send a message, Rincon reported.
"Today is a sad day for our industry, it is evident that there is a serious problem when a man has to take his life to prove a point or send a message to the authorities and lawmakers," said Fernando Mateo spokesman of the New York State Federation of Taxi Drivers.
There were no other injuries. Police say this was an isolated incident.
The investigation closed Manhattan-bound traffic on the Brooklyn Bridge, causing back-ups on both sides on the span during the morning rush hour.
Centre Street from Chambers Street to Park Row and Park Row from Spruce Street to Broadway were also closed.
All roads were reopened just after 9 a.m. with residual delays.
(© Copyright 2018 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
