ASTORIA — A father of two was behind the wheel of his livery cab when he was critically injured early Friday as four men he picked up in The Bronx got into a gunfight outside an Astoria nightclub, police said.
The 37-year-old driver, who taxi advocates identified as Roberto Castillo, drove the men to Club Purlieu at 36-4 34th St., near 36th Avenue. The group was inside briefly before rushing out again in the midst of a gunfight with other people, an NYPD spokesman said.
"I heard one boom — very, very loud — then a few more shots, maybe four shots. It was very strong. It woke me up," said Moty Mizrahi, 48, who is from Israel and staying in a nearby hotel.
Castillo managed to drive about two blocks to 35th Street and 37th Avenue where he crashed into some parked cars and came to a stop, police said.
It wasn't clear if one of the Castillo's own passengers shot him or if the bullet came from one of the other people they were fighting with.
Castillo, who lives in Yonkers, was in critical condition at Elmhurst Hospital with his girlfriend by his side, police said.
"Doctors have removed the bullet from his skull. We're hoping he's going to pull through, but we don't know at this point," said Fernando Mateo of the New York State Federation of Taxi Drivers.
"He's all banged up. He has a machine that's helping him breathe. He's in bad shape. He doesn't look too good," he added.
Castillo is father to two daughters, 8 and 15, Mateo said.
"This is what he did for a living. This is how he supported his two daughters," Mateo said.
There were no immediate arrests, police said. Investigators were questioning his passengers, an NYPD spokeswoman said.
Mateo said he had driven them a day before.
"Hopefully, we'll get answers from them and that will lead to the shooter or shooters in this case. I'm certain that they will get caught. It's just a matter of when," Mateo said.
Purlieu, which takes its name from a word that means "a frequently visited place," frequently hosts dancers and live music. Singer Trey Songz was there Thursday night, according to his Instagram.
