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Roosevelt Teen Shot Cab Driver, Cops Say

A teenager has been accused of shooting a 60-year-old taxi cab driver he allegedly robbed in Roosevelt a week after authorities said the suspect made another cab robbery attempt.

Nassau County police arrested Ezekiel Pittman, 19, of Roosevelt, hours after the second victim, a driver for Country Wide Car Service, picked the suspect up on West Roosevelt Avenue at 7:30 p.m. Saturday.

Police said Pittman got in the cab, flashed a handgun and demanded money but the gunman demanded more before shooting the driver in his right side and running away.

The victim was taken to Nassau University Medical Center, where he is listed in stable condition.

The victim identified Pittman as the shooter when investigators brought the suspect to the hospital, police said.

First Squad detectives alleged Pittman also tried to rob a 42-year-old woman driving a cab for Valentine Express in Hempstead on Aug. 2 but fled empty handed when the victim fought off the gunman.

Pittman was charged with robbery, assault, criminal possession of a weapon and criminal use of a firearm.

He will be arraigned Sunday at First District Court in Hempstead.