Teen Arrested In Connection With Cabbie's Murder, Fundraiser Planned For Widow
DENVER (CBS4) - Police sources say the person arrested Thursday morning and suspected in the death of Metro Taxi driver Darren Bloomquist is 17.
One of the early breaks in the case came through the suspect's cellphone.
On Sept. 5, Bloomquist, 49, was shot and killed in his cab after receiving a call to 20000 East Mitchell Place in Green Valley Ranch. According to Metro Taxi, Bloomquist was shot in the head during a robbery.
Last week CBS4 learned that Denver police and other law enforcement agencies had identified two people wanted for questioning in connection with the Bloomquist murder. The teen arrested Thursday morning is one of those two people.
Denver police had issued an internal bulletin to officers identifying the suspect and a second suspect and warning officers the suspects were thought to be involved in the Bloomquist case.
At the time Denver police said the case was active and open and they provided little information.
RELATED: 'Oh God, Don't Let Him Be Dead' Yelled Cabbie's Widow
Police sources say the 17-year-old was first identified through his cellphone, which sources say was used to call and summon Bloomquist's cab. He was first arrested on an unrelated charge on Sept. 10 in Denver and has been in custody since then. He was served his arrest on suspicion of first-degree murder Thursday morning while in custody.
The teenager is being held at Denver's juvenile detention facility for investigation of murder, according to Denver police. The case is now sealed because he's a juvenile
Additional Resources
Metro Taxi is holding a memorial for Darren Bloomquist and to help raise money for his widow. It will be at Metro Taxi Headquarters located at 5909 East 38th Avenue in Denver from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Metro Taxi has also set up a a GoFundMepage to help Bloomquist's widow with mounting debt.
CBS4 Investigator Brian Maass has been with the station more than 30 years uncovering waste, fraud and corruption. Follow him on Twitter @Briancbs4.
