Gunman suspected of killing taxi driver robbed others in the area, Tacoma police say

A man suspected of killing a taxi driver in Tacoma might be responsible for two robberies and an attempted home-invasion robbery in the same neighborhood, police said.

Eddie Hogan, 19, was charged Monday with first-degree murder and first-degree unlawful possession of a firearm for Thursday’s death of Robert “Big Dave” Crall, 54.

Hogan pleaded not guilty at arraignment in Pierce County Superior Court, and Court Commissioner Meagan Foley set bail at $1.5 million.

He was identified by a camera mounted in Crall’s cab that snapped photographs when the taxi’s back door opened or closed or when a fare was completed.

Data from the cab showed Crall picked up his last fare at a convenience store about a quarter mile from where he was shot to death.

People in the 5800 block of South Montgomery Street called 911 about 5:15 a.m. Thursday to report hearing gunfire.

Officers arrived and found Crall shot in the chest on the sidewalk outside his cab. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Using a photograph of the suspect taken in the taxi, detectives put out an alert to all law enforcement agencies to be on the lookout for the suspected shooter.

Later that night, an officer spotted Hogan walking on South Birmingham Street about four blocks away from where Crall died and stopped him because he matched the suspect’s description.

Hogan was cooperative until another officer found a loaded revolver in the area where Hogan had just been walking. He tried to flee but was taken into custody.

He claimed the shooting was in self-defense, saying he fired “when Crall grabbed him in an attempt to keep him from fleeing the cab without paying his fare,” according to charging papers.

When detectives confronted him with a photo from the taxi that showed Hogan with a bandana pulled up over his face, he allegedly admitted that he planned to rob Crall.

Police say on March 13 Hogan also robbed a man of his cell phone at gunpoint outside a convenience store. About 90 minutes later, Hogan allegedly attempted a home-invasion robbery and fired shots at the homeowner. The homeowner was not injured and Hogan dropped the stolen cell phone from the first robbery as he ran.

The gun used in the attempted home-invasion robbery is the same revolver used to kill Crall, records show.

Hogan is also suspected in a Feb. 8 home invasion where shots were fired at the homeowner.

Crall’s family described him as a kind, caring man who worked hard.

He’d been driving taxis for about two years, and the family often worried about his safety and begged him to stay home the morning he was killed because he was tired.

“He never came home that morning,” Tammy Crall, his ex-wife, told KOMO. “I wish I’d gave him a hug.”

Son David Crall, 27, told The News Tribune that his dad liked the job enough that he tried to get him to do it, too.

“He was a great man,” David Crall said outside court Monday. “He didn’t deserve it.”

Relatives said Robert Crall liked the Tacoma waterfront, Point Defiance and watching Seahawks games at Tacoma’s Emerald Queen Casino.

He also dreamed of getting a Kawasaki Kz1000 motorcycle like one he had some 15 years ago.

Loved ones said they’ve found themselves looking for his cab number, 728, when they’ve seen taxis drive by in recent days.

The Crall family is trying to raise funds to bury Crall. Donations can be made at gofundme.com/ug5kr-big-daves-funeral-fund.

This story was originally published March 19, 2018 at 1:43 PM with the headline "Gunman suspected of killing taxi driver robbed others in the area, Tacoma police say."