Mamadou Diop, a 45-year-old male of Senegalese ethnicity, was tragically shot and killed on March 12, 2014, in Cincinnati, OH. Diop, a father of three, was a taxi driver for Ran’s Taxi. He was found shot once in the back of the head in his taxi cab in the 1600 block of Baltimore Avenue in North Fairmount around 12:30 a.m. The motive for the killing was believed to be robbery.
Two suspects, Keyawhan Lowe, 20, and DaKeith Pleasant, 24, were arrested and charged with aggravated robbery
and murder in connection with Diop's death. Lowe had a criminal history that included aggravated robbery, and he had been on probation since 2012. Pleasant also had a history of robbery and had previously served time for carjacking. Both suspects were held on $1.1 million bond each at their arraignments.
In October 2014, Lowe and Pleasant took plea deals and pleaded guilty to murder and aggravated robbery charges. Lowe was sentenced to 28 years in prison, while Pleasant received a 17-year sentence. The case brought attention to the dangers faced by taxi drivers and highlighted the impact of violent crime on families and communities.
Diop's family, including his brother, expressed their grief and called for justice during the difficult time. The community mourned the loss of a hardworking father and friend who had been supporting his family in West Africa.
