Bx. livery driver shot, critically wounded, possibly by rider

A Bronx livery driver was clinging to life after he was shot in his car Thursday — possibly by a passenger, police said.

Mamadou Diallo, 60, was shot in the chest and grazed in the face just before 2 a.m., then drove a short distance, got out of his black Toyota Camry (photo) and stumbled into V.I.T. Car Service on White Plains Road and Archer St. in Soundview, leaving a trail of blood.

He isn’t affiliated with that car service, but showed up there looking for help, police sources said. It was not immediately clear where he was shot.

Medics rushed him to Jacobi Medical Center in critical condition.

Daytime workers at V.I.T. told the Daily News when they showed up for work Thursday there was blood on the sidewalk and door.

Diallo works for the DAT Car Service on Soundview Ave. in Soundview, about a mile and a half away.

“He’s been with DAT for four years, and usually works night,” said secretary Paola Ogando. “From what I know he’s still in critical condition. And we still haven’t been able to get in touch with the family.”

Ogando added, “DAT has been open since 1992, and this has never happened to one of our drivers. They’re all a little concerned and sad. We never really get complaints or threats.”

A new dispatcher at DAT who did not wish to be identified told The News that drivers for the car service company had been calling all day about the attack on Diallo.

“I’ve dealt with crazy customers but never received threats,” the dispatcher said. “It’s the Bronx but I’ve never dealt with things like that, the drivers keep calling and asking about him.”

Police were trying to determine if Diallo was shot by a passenger. No arrests have been made.

The shooting comes amid a roughly 50% increase in serious crimes this year in the Bronx’s 43rd Precinct, which covers the area where the incident took place. Despite the spike, shootings are down almost 16%, with 16 as of May 29, compared with 19 in the same timeframe last year.