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A Newberry County taxi driver is in critical condition after being shot Monday night.

According to information released by the Newberry County Sheriff’s Office, a driver with C & C Commute Taxi was dispatched to pick up two passengers on Smith Road near Newberry Academy at approximately 11:00 PM Monday night.

There he picked up two African-American males who asked him to take them to the Belfast Road area in North Western Newberry County.  When the driver did not report in, the dispatch called the Sheriff’s Office to be on the lookout for the taxi. 

Deputy Rusty Fulmer happened to be nearby and began searching for the cab and driver having seen the taxi with two individuals inside earlier on SC Highway 56. Fulmer found the victim near the intersection of Mudlick Road and SC Highway 56 lying in a ditch with at least two gunshot wounds to the body.

Lt. Garrett Lominack was responding to back up Deputy Fulmer, he saw a C & C Taxi in a ditch near the intersection of Belfast Road and Belmont Church Road. 

Further investigation revealed that there were no suspects in the taxi. 

Bloodhounds were called to the scene but failed to obtain a track.

Sheriff’s Office Investigators continue to investigate and describe the suspects as two African-American males one wearing white “T” shirt and blue jeans and the other wearing a multi-colored baseball type cap.

At last check the victim was listed in critical condition at Palmetto Richland.

C & C Commute is offering a $1000 reward for any information leading to an arrest in the case in addition to the money offered by the Sheriff’s Office and Crime Stoppers.