Two northern New Jersey men charged in shooting of tax driver

Two men from northern New Jersey stepped into the courtroom for the first recently to answer for their roles in the shooting of a taxi cab driver amid a robbery back in May, according to U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger.

Naeem Jackson, 22, of East Orange, and Walter Williams-Lang, 20, of Elizabeth, wore dark clothes and masks over their faces when they hopped in a taxi at 4:37 am on May 14 and then Williams-Lang pointed a gun at the drier and demanded money.

Jackson became impatient and pistol whipped the driver in the head repeatedly and then shot him in the arm leaving him in critical condition.

Both men were then arrested after fleeing the scene.

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Jackson and Williams-Lang were then charged and detained without bail on a four-count complaint with Hobbs Act violence in furtherance of a planned robbery, discharging a firearm during a crime of violence, conspiracy to use a firearm during a crime of violence, and possessing a firearm as convicted felons, according to Attorney Sellinger who said that "the counts of Hobbs Act violence and conspiracy to use a firearm during a crime of violence are punishable by 20 years in prison; the count of being convicted felons in possession of a firearm is punishable by 10 years in prison; and the count for discharging a firearm during a crime of violence is punishable by a consecutive sentence of 10 years to life in prison."