Two Men Charged With Taxi Jacking in Charlestown

Police arrested two men in Charlestown Sunday night after they allegedly assaulted a taxi driver with a pellet gun, stole his vehicle and fled the scene.

Officers responded to a report of a taxi being robbed near the intersection of Rutherford Avenue and Wellington Street around 6 p.m. Sunday night, according to Boston police.

The driver told police that one of the men, Shawn Hickey, 40 of Boston, pointed a gun at him and demanded money. Then, the driver said, he and the suspects got out of the taxi and a fight broke out.

During the fight, the driver said, Hickey shot him twice with pellets before jumping into the cab.

Police report that Hickey drove a short distance down Devens Street and struck two parked cars along the way. Hickey left the car and fled on foot, but not before retrieving a floral arrangement from the back of the car.

Meanwhile, the other man, Brian Cunneen, 21 of Lowell, fled the scene on foot.

Officers responding to the scene chased the suspects until catching both. Along the way, police reported that Hickey and Cunneen discarded a number of items, including a black-colored pellet gun.

Once the suspects were apprehended, police charged Hickey with armed carjacking, armed robbery, assault and battery by means of a dangerous weapon (pellet gun) and leaving the scene after causing property damage.

Police charged Cunneen with armed carjacking and armed robbery.