Man charged with murder of girlfriend's cab driver

GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga. — Police said 53-year-old Aidarous Abdella, of Lilburn, was shot in the head and killed just before 7 a.m.

His body was found near his taxi cab on Branch Road outside the Spring Condominium complex in Tucker. He was a driver with Atlanta Lenox Taxi, the company confirmed.

Police said Abdella had transported a female, later identified as 29-year-old Elizabeth MeKonnen, of DeKalb County, to meet her boyfriend, 34-year-old Henok Basore, of Norcross the morning of his death.

Basore met MeKonnen outside of the taxi cab and an argument ensured between them, during which time they said Basore produced a gun. Abdella attempted to intervene between the two and was shot by Basore, who fled the scene after the shooting, according to police.

Basore was located several hours later and was charged with felony murder and aggravated assault, police said.

McKonnen was also arrested and charged with giving false statements and obstruction regarding the investigation.

“(There was) some altercation. He got into it with the cab driver. I heard shots fired,” said one man who heard the commotion early Sunday morning.

Another witness described what he saw that morning outside the complex.

“I heard one gun shot and screaming. That was it,” he said. “I saw the girlfriend call the police, and she was just screaming and then the police showed up.”

WSBTV