Police: Motive unclear in cab driver's death

As Juan Rosario's family was preparing to bury him Monday, Suffolk police are trying to figure out who shot and killed the taxi driver after he arrived in Copiague to pick up a fare, said Suffolk police.

Rosario, 19, a part-time driver for 5 Star Taxi Services in Copiague, was shot once in the head Sunday, police said. His body was found in the driver's seat of a silver Chrysler minivan, a company vehicle Rosario used to shuttle passengers around town.

The motive, police said, is unknown. The owner of the cab company said less than $100 was taken.

"He was a very sweet son . . . lots of friends," his father, Antonio Rosario, said in Spanish. "Everybody loved him. He was a very nice boy."

Police said someone called 5 Star requesting a pickup at a 42nd Street address, about a mile from where Rosario lived with his parents and two siblings. When Rosario arrived at the house in a cul-de-sac, police said, no one was there, so he left to pick up another passenger.

Sometime later, a second call was made to the taxi service requesting a pick up at the same address, police said.

Two shots were fired, police said. One bullet struck Rosario and the other hit the side of the house where the van was parked.

Robert Veney, 50, lives at the 42nd Street address to which the cab was called, but said he did not place the call Sunday. Veney also said he did not hear gunshots. He said he went out about 4:30 p.m. and saw the minivan parked in front of his next door neighbor's house.

The neighbor, who asked that her name be withheld, said the van was not there at 3:40 p.m. when she went outside to walk her dog. At about 5:30 p.m. she walked her dog a second time and that's when she discovered Rosario's unconscious body.

"I saw his face up against the window," she said and called 911. "I had no idea the poor kid was dead."

She also said she had not heard any gunshots.

Rosario's girlfriend, Tatiana Diaz, 19, of Massapequa, said he was preparing to take a Regents exam in January and had plans to enroll in a college. He wanted to be an undercover detective, she said.

Cesar Fermin, 27, owner of the cab company, said Rosario started to work for him about a month ago.

Rosario was a good worker and a team player who always pitched in when needed, he said. "I can't believe whoever did it, did it for this kind of money - not even $100," said Fermin.