SEBASTIAN — The Sebastian Police Department has identified the taxi driver who fatally shot a would-be robber on May 30.
The driver has been identified the driver as Eric Wetzel, of Sebastian, who is the owner and operator of Caravan Transport.
Wetzel, with the assistance of his attorney, provided a formal statement and reenactment of the events to detectives, police said in a prepared statement.
The agency has now completed its preliminary investigation and has sent the case file to the State Attorney’s Office for review.
To date, Wetzel has neither been arrested nor charged in connection to the shooting.
According to police, Wetzel responded to the area of Concha and Periwinkle drivers to pick up a fare known to him from previous calls for service. The riders were previously identified as Jason Murtha, 36, and his cousin, Michael Hains, 34.
Wetzel told investigators that when he picked up Murtha and Hains, Murtha pulled a knife on Wetzel and demanded his money. After Wetzel gave Murtha the money, Wetzel tried to flee in the taxi van but Murtha pursued him.
“Wetzel, believing he was still in danger, drew a 9mm semi-automatic pistol from a hip holster and fired several times,” police said in the released statement. The Sebastian Police Department confirmed that Wetzel has a valid concealed weapons permit.
Murtha was struck five times and, after being found in his home injured, emergency responders attempted to transport him to Sebastian River Medical Center but he died en route, according to authorities.
Detectives are consulting with the State Attorney’s Office of the 19th Circuit to determine any further information needed to complete the investigation.
