Residents of an exclusive neighborhood along La Jolla's cliffs who heard screams and gunfire late Wednesday immediately called police.
Investigators say they arrived to the scene of a homicide. A 68-year-old self-employed cab driver had driven his green and white taxi to the 6800 block of La Jolla Scenic Drive when he was shot and killed.
When officers arrived around 11:30 p.m., they found the man dead from several apparent gunshot wounds on the curb.
Witnesses told police they saw the cab pulled over, heard an argument and then gunfire.
The cab then drove off heading northbound on La Jolla Scenic Drive North police said. The empty taxi was found around 2:20 a.m. Thursday parked on Coast Boulevard near the Children's Pool.
The cabbie still had his wallet on him when officers arrived. They have not released his identity pending family notification.
Det. Kevin Rooney with San Diego police said the fact that the driver was self-employed and not working with a dispatcher like many cab companies makes it more challenging for invesetigators to clarify why the victim was in La Jolla at the time of the shooting.
Investigators are interviewing several witnesses with different vantage points on the block according to Rooney. How many people were involved is still unclear. Investigators have not released a suspect description.
Police have asked that anyone with information about this case call the Homicide Unit at (619) 531-2293 or Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477.
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