Fatal Intervention: Taxi Driver Killed Trying to Stop Argument

Gwinnett Police say a taxi driver was shot and killed next to his cab Sunday morning while trying to intervene during an argument between the alleged shooter and his girlfriend.

Police identified the victim as Aidarous Abdella, 53, of Lilburn. Abdella was found dead around 6:15 a.m. Sunday with a gunshot wound to the head. WSB-TV reported Abdella was a driver with Atlanta Lenox Taxi.

The shooting occurred at the Spring Condominiums on Branch Drive near Tucker, in unincorporated Gwinnett County.

Police have arrested and charged Henok Basore, 34, of Norcross, with felony murder and aggravated assault. His girlfriend Elizabeth MeKonnen, 29, of Clarkston, has been charged with false statements and obstruction.

Investigators said Abdella picked up the woman and drove her to the incident area to meet Basore. The two argued, and when Basore pulled out a gun, Abdella tried to intervene and was subsequently shot.

Basore was arrested several hours later.

The investigation continues.

The shooting was the second homicide of a taxi driver in Gwinnett County in less than a month. Adam Matthew Pfeifer, 23, of Norcross was arrested and charged in the Aug. 16 fatal shooting of Afolabi Odifa, a driver for ATL Taxi who was found slumped over the steering wheel in his car in a Gwinnett County apartment complex.

(Photo: Henok Basore. Gwinnett County Jail mug shot)