Two men have made their initial appearances on charges of shooting a taxi driver during a late-night robbery in Elizabeth, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced today.
According to U.S. Attorney Sellinger, Naeem Jackson, 22, of East Orange and Walter Williams-Lang, 20, of Elizabeth, are each charged in a four-count complaint with Hobbs Act violence in furtherance of a planned robbery; discharging a firearm during a crime of violence; conspiracy to use a firearm during a crime of violence; and possessing a firearm as convicted felons.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
On May 14, at 4:37 a.m., Jackson and Williams-Lang, wearing dark clothing and masks over their faces, entered a taxi.
Williams-Lang pointed a firearm at the taxi driver while demanding his money. Jackson then took the firearm from Williams-Lang and pistol-whipped the taxi driver’s head several times before shooting him in the arm.
After leaving the driver in critical condition from a gunshot wound, Jackson and Williams-Lang fled the scene and were arrested.
The charges and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.