Brooklyn Cab Driver's Suspected Killer Caught in North Carolina

Unique Gray, the man suspected of killing Brooklyn cab driver Naji Fawaz. Photo via NYPD

Sheriff’s deputies in North Carolina made some headway Sunday in a tragic Brooklyn murder case from earlier this summer.

Just after midnight on June 29, Brownsville resident and livery cab driver Naji Fawaz, 35, was shot dead as he worked his night shift in Bed-Stuy, according to news reports from the time.

“The car rolled to a stop and the man was hanging out the window,” a nearby resident named Sonny told the New York Daily News. “When I ran over to him, he was just gurgling. He was trying to breathe and speak.” Fawaz had reportedly been shot in the chest, right shoulder and neck.

The NYPD soon identified east Brooklyn resident Unique Gray, 23, as one of two suspects captured on surveillance camera and later seen running down Decatur Street near Patchen Avenue.

Gray was arrested on Sunday, Aug. 30, by deputies from the Pitt County Sheriff’s Department, according to department spokeswoman Christy Wallace.

“Our deputies did a traffic stop the week before,” Wallace said. “One of the gentleman in the car gave a name that ended up not being his name. So they started looking for that person, and they found him to be Unique Gray.”

As of Monday afternoon, Gray was in custody at the Pitt County Detention Center, Wallace said — and was being interviewed by “agents from New York.”

“We’re in the process of extraditing him,” confirmed an NYPD spokeswoman.

However, if Gray doesn’t agree to accompany the NYPD back to New York for a trial, law enforcement will need to obtain an extradition order from the governor of North Carolina, according to Wallace.

Gray’s alleged victim, local cab driver Fawaz, was remembered in the days following his murder as a hardworking immigrant and family man who sometimes worked seven-day weeks to provide for his children.

“He came from [Yemen] to find a new life,” Hamden Mohamed, his close friend, told Pix11.

His cousin, business owner Adel Mubaraz, told the Daily News that Fawaz had worked part-time at his deli to make ends meet. “He worked two jobs, he was a good man and a hard worker who loved his family,” Mubaraz said. “He worked seven days a week.”

Fawaz’ murder also shocked residents living on the quiet street in Stuyvesant Heights where he was killed.

“This driver was shot right outside my door,” wrote Bed-Stuy resident Estelle Bonneau on Facebook the next day. ”When I heard the shots I hit the floor. Praying that the Lord will comfort the mourning family of the cab driver.”

Bonneau later added in a Facebook comment: “Nothing like this has ever happened on this block since my grandmother bought this house in 1957.”

Below, the full story on how North Carolina detectives tracked down Gray, courtesy of the Pitt County Sheriff’s Department.

On Tuesday, August 25, Pitt County Sheriff’s Office deputies conducted a traffic stop at 1709 Belvior Hwy and Lauray Drive. Deputy K. Adams notice a vehicle that failed to stop at a stop sign; therefore, he initiated a traffic stop.

The driver was identified as Gregory Stephens, 25, of 1553 Van Ness Ave. in Greenville. He was charged with No Operators License and Failing to Stop at a Stop Sign. A passenger in the vehicle identified himself as Jaral Davis. As deputies were obtaining further information, Davis ran from the scene. Deputies began a foot chase and a K-9 was called to possibly track the man, but was unsuccessful.

Then on Saturday, August 29, Deputy K. Adams and Deputy J. Jones continued the investigation in locating the Davis. During their investigation, it was determined that Jaral Davis was not his real name.

Deputies Adams and Jones then went to 1533 Van Ness Ave. to find information on “Jaral Davis.” They discovered that he had been staying at this address with Stephens. They were told that they needed a search warrant to talk with anyone.

Deputy Adams obtained a search warrant for the suspect at this address. A search warrant was executed and Gregory Stephens was arrested for Resist, Delay & Obstruct. Deputies searched the residence for the I identified man, but did not locate him at the residence. However, the clothes that the suspect was wearing during the traffic stop were found in the residence.

Deputies Adams and Jones then started interviewing everyone at the residence in reference to the identification of the man. During these interviewed, Deputy Adams determined that the suspect is Unique Everlast Gray from Brooklyn, NY.

Further investigation revealed that Gray was a murder suspect in NY. At that time, Deputy Adams charged Gregory Stephens with Felony Conspiracy and Malina Varnes, 20, of 1553 Van Ness Ave. with Felony Harboring a Fugitive.

With the assistance of PSCO’s Detective Mitchell, Deputies Adams and Jones discovered that Gray was hiding at the Camelot Inn Motel. Deputies called in the assistance of Greenville ERT. While trying to make contact, Gray ran out of the room. He could not be located.

Around 9:00 a.m., Sunday morning, a GPD officer spotted Gray walking on Green Street near Mumford Road. When the officer approached Gray, he ran, again.

Other units responded and Gray was apprehended and transported to Pitt County Detention Center.