PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Taxi company competition was set aside Saturday for the public memorial for Reese Lawhon, the Radio Cab driver stabbed to death after picking up a passenger on Easter Sunday.
Dozens of cabs lined up off Southeast Water Avenue around 5 p.m. before parading through the streets of Portland to honor the 43-year-old longtime cabbie who was described as kind and dedicated.
As the taxi parade began, Radio Cab Portland spokesperson Darin Campbell told the other drivers, “Let’s get into our vehicles and show the City of Portland we’re family, and that we’re here for Reese’s family.”
Lawhon’s family said he “was the most caring, witty, loving son, brother, uncle and dear friend you could possibly imagine having.”
City leaders, co-workers and friends also gathered at the spot where Lawhon lost his life on April 9.
Commissioner Mingus Mapps, who’s in charge of the Portland Bureau of Transportation, vowed to do what he can to make sure a crime like this doesn’t happen again.
“Anyone who loses their life while trying to keep this city on the move, that’s an outrage,” Mapps said.
Michael Marion with Radio Cab Vancouver said drivers are worried.
“With the way Portland’s going I’m fearful that this may not be the last event. But I’m hoping that the city gets it together,” Marion said. “We’re dealing with a lot of mental health and a lot of homeless right now. So, it’s really hard to judge the people that we’re picking up.”
Lawhon’s death hit hard across the company, he said. But solidarity and support brought them together but wants more to be done to help keep drivers safe.
“You’re taking a chance. We don’t have the partition between us and the customer, so it’s kind of hard to be safe. So, you know you just pray and hope that the customers that we’re picking up are trustworthy,” he said.
The incident on April 9, Easter Sunday, unfolded near Southeast Washington Street and Southeast Water Avenue shortly after Lawhon had picked up a customer in downtown Portland, according to Radio Cab.
Radio Cab said they’ve seen cab surveillance of the stabbing and told KOIN 6 News there was no provocation or fight before, saying the person who stabbed Lawhon did so unexpectedly.
Mapps said a clear partition in cabs “seems like common sense to me, and I certainly want it to be an option for people who do this work and think that the clear divider will help keep them safe.”
The commissioner said an advisory committee of cab drivers is currently looking into the dividers. While they are still gathering feedback he wants to make it an option — and said this horrific crime shed light on areas where elected officials and the city can do better.
“Tonight, the Radio Cab family, and the Portland family and the City of Portland is mourning and hurting,” Mapps said. “I encourage everybody to take care of themselves and take care of each other. We will never get over this loss but we can move forward and we must move forward.”
Moses Lopez, 30, is facing second-degree murder and unlawful use of weapon charges in connection to Lawhon’s death. Court records show there was an active felony warrant for Lopez out of Coos County for alleged unlawful use of a weapon and menacing.
Stay with KOIN 6 for continuing coverage on this case.