Attempted Murder Charges in NJ Cabbie Slashing

Four suspects arrested and charged Monday in the violent robbery and attack of a South Jersey cab driver were in court Tuesday as the driver they allegedly attacked remained hospitalized.

Breanna Pimienta, 18, and Miguel Mercado, 21, both of Cherry Hill, N.J.; Mahadi Robinson, 21, of Maple Shade, N.J.; and a 17-year-old male, whose name was not disclosed, are charged with attempted murder, robbery and carjacking charges.

Joseph Dominguez, 20, was attacked around 3 a.m. after picking up four passengers at a Cherry Hill pharmacy and taking them to Forrest Court in Mt. Laurel, police said.

That was when Dominguez was put in a choke hold, his throat cut and he was robbed, according to Camden County prosecutors.

One of the accused attackers then jumped behind the wheel of the taxi, drove it a short distance and crashed the cab into a tree in front of a nearby home, officials said.

Dominguez managed to stumble to a nearby home to get help and was airlifted to Cooper University Hospital in Camden. He had surgery and was in critical condition late Monday but friends say they expect him to pull through.

He had trouble finding the people to pick up in Cherry Hill, according to a dispatcher with Five Star Cab Service in Camden who asked not to be identified.

“He had a hard time finding it and he even told me that he thought those people were playing around because he couldn’t find the number,” she said.

The assailants made off with about $40, according to authorities.

Attempted murder charges were filed Monday against the three adults and the teenager accused in the beating and stabbing. Bail was set at $300,000 each for the adults and the juvenile was being held in pre-trial detention.