North

Slain Yellowknife taxi driver ID'd as RCMP lay murder charges

An 18-year-old man has been charged with murder following the death of Ahmed Mahamud Ali, a Yellowknife cab driver who died earlier this week.

Elias Schiller, 18, faces murder charge in death of Ahmed Mahamud Ali, a City Cab driver

Ahmed Mahamud Ali, shown here in his chauffeur's permit, has been identified by a manager at the City Cab taxi company as the person who was found at Stanton Territorial Hospital in Yellowknife. (Randall Mackenzie/CBC)

An 18-year-old man has been charged with murder following the death of Ahmed Mahamud Ali, a Yellowknife cab driver who died earlier this week. 

Elias Schiller is in custody and faces a murder charge, RCMP said in a news release Tuesday.

The taxi driver was found unconscious in the back seat of a City Cab vehicle just outside Yellowknife's Stanton Territorial Hospital early Monday morning.

The man was taken into the hospital after he was found, but was pronounced dead shortly afterward, RCMP have said.

Ali's identity was confirmed by Shirley McGrath, the general manager of City Cab.

RCMP have not released Ali's name, but a spokesperson confirmed to CBC News that the victim's next of kin has been notified.

Police tape surrounds the emergency room access area at Stanton Territorial Hospital in Yellowknife Monday morning. RCMP announced that an 18-year-old has been charged with murder. (Randall McKenzie/CBC)

"While the investigation is still in early stages, we'd like to assure the citizens of Yellowknife and the community of taxi drivers that we have apprehended the suspect and there is no public safety risk at this time," RCMP spokesperson Marie York-Condon said in Tuesday's news release.

Schiller's first court appearance is set for Friday in Yellowknife.

With files from Sidney Cohen