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16 Year Old Charged In Scranton Cab Driver’s Murder

SCRANTON — A 16 year old is locked up on murder charges for the shooting death of a cab driver in Scranton. Aazis Richardson was arraigned Friday night on...

SCRANTON -- A 16 year old is locked up on murder charges for the shooting death of a cab driver in Scranton.

Aazis Richardson was arraigned Friday night on numerous felony charges for killing Vincent Darbenzio early Friday morning.

Aazis Richardson is charged with murder in the first, second and third degrees.

Police said Richardson was riding in Darbenzio’s cab when Richardson shot him because he felt the driver was trying to overcharge him.

“What did you say to him when you guys were in the cab together?” Richardson was asked.

“I didn't say [expletive] to him, I just told him take this way, he didn't want to listen, he got his [expletive] shot.”

Aazis Richardson not only showed no remorse for allegedly killing a Scranton cab driver, he also appeared to justify it.

“I feel my homies die, everybody got to die,” said Richardson.

Scranton police charged Richardson with numerous felony charges, including murder in the first, second and third degrees for the shooting death of McCarthy cab driver Vincent Darbenzio.

Investigators say Darbenzio picked up Richardson at a double block home on Washburn Street around 3:00 Friday morning then drove him to Valley View Terrace Apartments.

Darbenzio's body was found around 5 a.m. on Crown Avenue, hanging out of his driver's side door with two gunshot wounds to the head.

Tracking the cell phone records of who called the cab, police were led back to the double block home on Washburn Street and found Richardson hiding in the attic with a handgun hidden in a bag and took him into custody.

Richardson told police he killed Darbenzio because the cab driver was taking the long way to get to Valley View and ignored Richardson when he told him shortcuts.

Richardson said Darbenzio was ripping him off by trying to run up the meter, so he shot him twice then stole $500 from him.

“You shot him twice, why twice?” he was asked.

“Cause that's what I do to people who don't listen,” he said.

Police do say that Richardson himself did not call for the cab, but a female living in the adjoining apartment called for him.

She told police she didn't know Richardson personally, that he told her he didn't have a phone and he asked that she call a cab for him.

“What about your parents, do you have anything to say to your family?” he was asked.

“I love y'all,” he said.

When asked: “What about the victim's family?” Richardson said “[Expletive] them.”

Richardson says he is originally from Newark, NJ and told police he is suspect in a triple homicide there.

The Lackawanna County District Attorney says investigators will be contacting police in New Jersey about those remarks.

Richardson has a preliminary hearing set for May 30.

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