Police investigate Raleigh cabbie's shooting death

RALEIGH, N.C. — Raleigh police are investigating the late-night shooting death of a cab driver in the parking lot of a North Raleigh apartment complex.

Sgt. Kevin Carswell said Tuesday that AAA Cab driver Michael Howard Palmer, 59, picked up a fare at the Greyhound Bus station in downtown shortly before 11 p.m. Monday and took that person to Quail Ridge Apartments at the intersection of Falls of Neuse and Millbrook roads.

Police declined to say how many times Palmer was shot or whether he was in the driver's seat at the time.

Raleigh police spokesman Jim Sughrue said several residents who live near the crime scene reported hearing "a shot" late Monday.

Investigators interviewed Quail Ridge residents Tuesday morning for possible leads.

Investigators want to speak with the fare to help determine what happened when the cab arrived at the apartment complex, Carswell said.

"I wouldn't call anyone a suspect at this point. We just need to talk to him to find out what happened once they were transported up here," Carswell said. "We do know that the cab driver got here with his fare and sometime after he got here he was shot and killed."

Anyone with information in the case is asked to call Raleigh police at 919-996-3555. Anonymous tips can also be phoned in at 919-227-6220.