Paul John Casper

In the January 6, 1984 edition of the Baltimore Sun we find that the body of Paul John Casper, 36, was found slumped over the wheel of his Checker in the 4800 block of Clifton Avenue near Leakin Park.  He died of a shotgun blast to the head in an apparent robbery attempt early on January 5, 1984, just thirty minutes after he began his shift, city police reported.   Investigators were searching for two men who were seen standing by the cab.

Police found no money on the driver and believe that robber wasthe motive for Mr. Casper's slaying.  They said his assailants could have gotten little more than pocket change beeft the Checker Cab garage in the 2500 block of West Lexington Street at 3:35AM and ws found dead at 4:10AM.  The citime was found by a Yellow Cab driver, who told police he became suspicious when he saw two men standing by the parked cab.  One of the men told the driver, whose name was not disclosed, that "Therese's a cab driver hurt" and asked him to use his dashboard radio to call for help.  At the same time one of the men handed Mr. Casper's wallet to the driver.  The driver said while he was calling for an ambulance the men fled on foot.

Because the radiophone in Mr. Casper's cab was dangling off the dashboard, police believe he was shot when he tried to report the robber to his dispatcher.  His assailant fired a shotgun in to the front passenger window which was shattered by pellets, police said.