Detroit man charged for cab driver murder

William M. Heard, 39, of Detroit charged with open murder, armed robbery for shooting of

DETROIT – Prosecutor Kym L. Worthy has charged William M. Heard, 39, of Detroit with open murder, armed robbery, carjacking and felony firearm.

Read: Detroit cab drivers concerned for own safety after recent shootings, killings

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Police say Heard shot, killed and carjacked cab driver Tyrone Hitchcock, 48, of Detroit on Jan 3rd.

He also robbed and shot a 46-year-old woman who was in the cab.

Heard is expected to be arraigned Thursday.

Read more: Family mourns slain Detroit cab driver; passenger injured

Cab drivers have had a difficult time staying safe in the city of Detroit over the past couple of years.

In March 2011 a cab driver was shot on the city's east side. Another driver was shot the following month on the west side. Just this past September a driver was shot and killed while stopped at an ATM on the city's west side.

On Oct. 16, another driver was shot and killed while parked at a Mobil gas station on Detroit's east side. Then, just a few days later, a 58-year-old driver was shot on the city's west side.

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