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PD: Cab driver kills man after altercation

Posted at 5:48 AM, Apr 13, 2016
and last updated 2016-04-14 08:59:33-04

A man has passed away after an altercation with a cab driver in west Phoenix. 

According to the Phoenix Police Department, the shooting happened at a gas station at the corner of 51st Avenue and Camelback Road on Wednesday morning.

Phoenix police said a Discount Cab driver, Joseph Petty, and Michael Lopez, who was in a white passenger car, both pulled into the gas station at the same time and were involved in an argument.

Police said the 28-year-old cab driver "felt threatened" and pulled out a gun and fired at least one shot at the 25-year-old driver of the white passenger car. Lopez was taken to the hospital where he died. 

The cab driver was detained and told police he was fueling his cab at the end of his shift when he said Lopez told him he had a weapon in his vehicle. Petty said Lopez reached into his vehicle and that's when he opened fire on the man. 

Police later found no weapon at the scene that belonged to Lopez or inside Lopez's vehicle. 

Petty was booked into jail and faces one count of second degree murder. 

A passenger in the white car was also detained on unrelated felony warrants, said police.