Today in Hendry County Joe McCray, 48, was found guilty of Manslaughter with a Firearm and Robbery with a Firearm Causing Death for shooting and killing a taxi cab driver. He faces up to life in prison at his sentencing on May 4th.
In September 2015, two women hired the victim to drive them from the Miccosukee Indian Reservation in Miami to Okeechobee. The intent of the trip was to meet up with a friend according to one of the women. The friend was unavailable and the cab fare was $600. The women did not have money for the fare so called the defendant and asked him to pick them up and drive them back to Miami once they got to Clewiston which is where the victim was now driving them to. He agreed and they met him in a Clewiston parking lot.
The two women got into McCray’s car while he got out, walked up to the taxi and robbed the driver at gunpoint. The driver resisted so McCray shot him in the leg and stole approximately $16 in cash from him. The trio then left in McCray’s car and left the taxi driver bleeding on the ground.
McCray then went back to his home to change his clothes and switch cars. He also stopped at a convenience store and spent the $16 he stole on beer. He then drove the women back to the reservation in Miami.
The victim was found after a woman going to work out found him in the parking lot. He died a short time later from his injuries.
Assistant State Attorneys John Dommerich Jr. and Abe Thornburg prosecuted the case.
Samantha Syoen
Communications Director
State Attorney’s Office
239-533-1125
ssyoen@sao20.org