In the early morning hours of September 7, 2014, a quiet condominium complex in Tucker, Georgia, became the scene of a sudden and tragic act of violence that claimed the life of 53-year-old Aidarous Abdella, a Black/African American male. Abdella, a taxi driver from Lilburn, had driven a female passenger to the Spring Condominiums on Branch Drive to meet her boyfriend.
What should have been a routine fare took a fatal turn, ending a life and leading to the swift arrest of those believed to be responsible.
Just before 7 a.m., an argument broke out between 29-year-old Elizabeth MeKonnen of DeKalb County and her 34-year-old boyfriend, Henok Basore of Norcross. Witnesses reported hearing a heated exchange, followed by the sound of a single gunshot and screaming. According to police, Abdella, who was operating a taxi for Atlanta Lenox Taxi, had attempted to intervene in the escalating dispute between the couple. It was during this act of intervention that Basore allegedly produced a gun and shot Abdella in the head. His body was later discovered near his taxi.
Following the shooting, Henok Basore fled the scene. However, law enforcement located and arrested him several hours later. Basore was subsequently charged with felony murder and aggravated assault for his alleged role in Abdella's death. Elizabeth MeKonnen was also taken into custody and faced charges of making false statements and obstruction in connection with the investigation into the fatal shooting. The case highlighted the dangers faced by taxi drivers and marked the second homicide of a cab driver in Gwinnett County in less than a month.
