By Mary Corrado
Editor
On Friday, a Chicago Department of Public Health communications specialist, Michael L. Jackson, 37, turned himself in to the Police Department in the case of the murdered cab driver. He is being held without bail.
A cab driver was murdered in the 500 block of W. Briar Pl. at 12:23 a.m. Friday, Feb. 4, after a verbal altercation with a man who was his fare. The offender was described by witnesses as a white man, 40s, with blue eyes, blonde hair and light complexion, wearing a dark wool coat, brown pants, white socks and black shoes.
The altercation escalated and the men were punching each other. The cabdriver either fell down or was pushed down onto the pavement. The offender then got into the driver’s side of the cab and drove over the victim, hitting him with the front of the taxi and causing grievous injuries, breaking many ribs, lacerating the heart and leaving road imprints on the man. He then drove south on Cambridge Ave., turning west on Briar Pl., hitting a parked car. He then turned north on Broadway, striking two other cars. The offender then fled on foot, running southbound, and then entering a second cab.
The victim was transported to Illinois Masonic; he was pronounced dead at 1:16 a.m. Haroon K. Paryani, of the 1500 block of W. Foster Ave., was 61 years old. His few effects, collected at the hospital, included a silver ring, six dollars, a dime, miscellaneous papers, and a set of blood-stained clothes.
Jackson's lawyers say that the altercation started over a disagreement about the $8 fare. They say that he acted in self-defense and that Jackson will be vindicated at trial. His next court hearing is Feb. 24. |
