Man charged with murder in death of taxi driver

A man who allegedly punched a cabdriver in the head, knocking him to the ground and eventually killing him, has been charged with murder.

The driver, 53-year-old Eddy E. Nwanyanwu of Hawthorne, was in the 12800 block of South Prairie Avenue on Feb. 10 when "he became involved in a parking dispute with a female subject," Hawthorne police said in a statement.

That woman at some point called a family member to the scene. Police believe that man is Cedric Dominic Staten, 28, of Gardena.

Video surveillance shows a person approach Nwanyanwu in the parking lot, "and without provocation, punch the victim in the head area at least once ... knocking the victim to the ground," police said.

In an earlier interview, Los Angeles County Sheriff's Lt. Holly Francisco said the incident occurred at 4:34 p.m., and it's unclear what sparked the initial argument.

"We don't know if it was a fight over a parking spot or what," she said.

Staten, who was seen fleeing the scene, was arrested Feb. 13 and was charged with one count of murder on Feb. 18.

Staten is being held on $1-million bail and expected back in court on April 10.

-- Ari Bloomekatz

Photo: Cedric Dominic Staten. Credit: Hawthorne Police Department