Deputies are searching for two men who shot a taxi cab driver last night in the Belfast Road area.

The C & C Commute Taxi driver was shot last night after picking up riders and is in critical condition at Palmetto Richland Hospital.

The driver was dispatched to pick up two passengers on Smith Road near Newberry Academy at approximately 11 p.m. last night.

“The driver picked up two African-American males that asked him to take them to the Belfast Road area,” said Sheriff Lee Foster. “When the driver did not report in, the dispatch called the Sheriff’s Office to be on the lookout for the taxi.”

Sheriff’s Deputy Rusty Fulmer was in the Mudlick Road area near Chappells assisting with removing a tree that fell during a thunderstorm.

He had earlier spotted the taxi with two individuals inside on Highway 56. Once the call came in about the missing taxi, Fulmer began searching for the cab.

As he turned onto Mudlick Road off of Highway 56, he spotted the taxi driver in the ditch.

The taxi driver had suffered at least two gunshot wounds to the body, said Foster.

As Sheriff’s Lt. Garrett Lominack was responding to back up Fulmer, he saw a C & C taxi in a ditch near the intersection of Belfast Road and Belmont Church Road. But the suspects had already left the area.

Bloodhounds were called to the scene but were not able to track the suspects.

Investigators from the Sheriff’s Office began to work the two crime scenes to obtain forensic evidence, said Foster.

The victim was airlifted to Palmetto Richland and this afternoon is listed in critical condition.

The suspects are described as two black males. One was wearing a white T-shirt and blue jeans and the other a multi-colored baseball type cap.

C & C Commute is offering a $1,000 reward for any information leading to an arrest in the case, in addition to the money offered by the Sheriff’s Office and Crime Stoppers.

If you have any information about this case, please contact the Newberry County Sheriff’s Office at 321-2211 or www.newberrycountysheriff.com. You can also contact Crime Stoppers at 1-888-CrimeSC, www.sccrimestoppers.com or text your tip to "TIPSC plus your message" to CRIMES (274637).