Three juveniles arrested, charged with murder after cab driver shooting; victim identified

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Three teenagers are facing murder charges after Louisville cab driver Papa Thiam was shot to death.

Thiam was 31-years-old and a native of Africa.

Police say he was killed by a single gunshot wound to the body, and robbery appears to be the motive.It happened at around 8:00 Sunday night on Garden Green Way in Newburg.

Within hours, police had arrested three juveniles - ages 15, 16 and 17. They're charged with murder and tampering with evidence.

The victim was found inside the cab, but police will not say whether the suspects were passengers.

"I'm not going to get into the exact reason why they were there, at this stage," said LMPD spokesperson Dwight Mitchell. "What I can tell you is what have I told you. That is the fact that it was a robbery -- apparent robbery -- that subsequently led to the cab driver being shot."

After the driver was shot, the cab continued to roll forward, first hitting a lamppost, thenplowing througha fence, and speeding through Patricia Williams' yard.

"I was standing outside, and heard, 'pop, pop, pop, pop, pop.' I looked at my daughter, and I'm like, that was real, real close," said Williams.

Williams says she was in her driveway saying goodbye to her daughter and grandchildren, when she heard the gunshots, then saw the cab barreling towards her.

"It could have been my life along with his. He had no control at that point when he came hurling through the yard. It could have been me," she said.

More here:
Three juveniles arrested, charged with murder after cab driver shooting; victim identified