In the early morning hours of Saturday, November 12, 1988, the life of 26-year-old Matthew Pusateri, a White / Caucasian male, was tragically cut short in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Pusateri, who worked as a taxi driver for the Yellow Cab company, was on duty, seated in his vehicle in a parking lot in the 800 block of Sixth Street SW. At approximately 3 a.m., two men reportedly approached his cab.
In an act of violence that has remained unsolved for decades, Pusateri was shot in the head.
Police at the time speculated that the motive for the attack was robbery, believing the assailants shot him after he refused to hand over any money. Following the shooting, Pusateri was rushed to St. Luke's Hospital for medical attention.
Despite the efforts of medical personnel, Matthew Pusateri succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead. The case has since become one of Cedar Rapids' lingering cold cases. While law enforcement investigated the homicide, no arrests have ever been publicly announced in connection with the murder. The identities of the two men who approached his taxi remain unknown, and no suspects have been officially named or charged, leaving the case unresolved.
