3 arrested in 2008 shooting of cabbie in Shirley

Three men have been arrested in connection with the shooting death two years ago of a taxi driver outside the Shirley train station, authorities said Tuesday.

The suspects - Michael Taggart, 23, of Melville, Corey Holmes, 20, of Mastic, and Jimmy Ruiz, 18, whose address was unknown - were arrested separately in recent months. A Suffolk grand jury indicted each on charges of second-degree murder and first-degree attempted robbery.

That indictment was unsealed Tuesday in Suffolk County Court by State Supreme Court Justice C. Randall Hinrichs.

Taggart, who is serving a two-year sentence in Auburn Correctional Facility on a separate conviction for second-degree attempted robbery, did not enter a plea Tuesday in Suffolk County Court because he did not have an attorney. He is to be arraigned Nov. 23. Holmes and Ruiz have pleaded not guilty.

The death of cabbie John Attrino, 53, of Shirley, had remained a mystery since he was shot in the thigh just before 3 a.m. on Nov. 25, 2008, during what police said was an attempted robbery.

Assistant District Attorney Todd Pettigrew declined to comment outside court Tuesday.

Millie Attrino, the victim's aunt, of Patchogue, who was at the courthouse before Taggart's court appearance, said the arrest of the three was "a big relief."

Christopher Attrino, the victim's cousin, also of Patchogue, said John Attrino had been a cab driver for more than 20 years and he had never feared for his safety. They said he didn't earn much money but supported his mother, Rena Attrino of Shirley.

"He just barely made a living," said Christopher Attrino, who was also at the courthouse. He said of the arrest, "I didn't think they would catch [Taggart]."

Holmes and Ruiz each pleaded not guilty earlier this month to the murder and attempted robbery charges, according to online court records. Both are held without bail at Suffolk County jail.

Their attorneys declined to comment Tuesday.

In a separate case, Holmes is awaiting sentencing after pleading guilty earlier this year to weapons charges stemming from a May 2009 incident, according to online court records. He is due in court Thursday in that case.

Candis Muuss,49, a manager at Hampton Coach Cab company in Mastic Beach when Attrino was first hired to work there about three years ago, said Tuesday night of the arrests: "I think that's great! I think that's awesome! Something like this usually goes into a cold case file in the police department and is forgotten about.

"At the train station there were no cameras, and no witnesses and I said they're never going to catch these sons of b..," said Muuss. He said Attrino's killing " really spooked a couple of drivers. They're really leery about who they pick up. If somebody doesn't look right, they'll drive right by them."

But although he said he's elated by the arrests, he doesn't think it will completely alleviate fears among drivers. "You still have to be careful."

With Bill Mason