Kamil Shamji, a 59-year-old male taxi driver from Chicago, IL, was tragically murdered on February 22, 2016. Shamji, who was of Middle Eastern descent, was found slumped over the steering wheel of his cab in the 4400 block of North Leavitt Street in the Lincoln Square neighborhood. He had been shot in the back of the head, and his cellphone and cash were stolen.
The incident occurred after Shamji picked up his last fare at a McDonald's in the 6700 block of North Clark Street and drove the passenger to Lincoln Square. The passenger, later identified as Lamon Weathers, shot Shamji within seconds of being told the fare.
The investigation revealed that Weathers attempted to dismantle a camera mounted in the cab after the shooting and left a pack of cigarettes in the back seat, which were marked with his fingerprint. Evidence technicians helped the Chicago Police Department recover the video from the taxi, which recorded the crime. Surveillance video from the McDonald's also showed Weathers at the scene. Shamji, a father of two, worked long shifts to support his daughters after their mother died of cancer. His murder had a devastating impact on his family, with his stepdaughter Jennifer Valle stating that Shamji always planned to give up any cash and valuables if he were robbed to stay unharmed, but he was never given that chance.
Lamon Weathers was arrested and charged with first-degree murder. He pleaded guilty to the charges and was sentenced to 42 years in prison. The case highlighted the dangers faced by taxi drivers and the impact of violent crime on families and communities. Weathers' previous criminal activities included robbing another cab driver at gunpoint about a week before Shamji's murder, although that driver was not injured. The swift resolution of the case brought some measure of justice to Shamji's family, but the loss of their loved one left a lasting void.
