Prosecutors cannot seek the death penalty in the case of a 16-year-old charged with killing a Scranton cab driver.

Lackawanna County District Attorney Andy Jarbola explained that despite the circumstances, Aazis Richardson's age rules out the death penalty.

"The law was changed … where the death penalty cannot be sought against juveniles," Jarbola said.

"If a case deserved a potential death penalty consideration, this is it," he added.

Richardson, of 1011 Washburn St., was a passenger in Vincent Darbenzio's cab early Friday morning.

He asked Darbenzio to drop him off near Valley View Terrace, but decided the driver was taking the long way to rip him off. Richardson told police he shot Darbenzio twice in the back of the head and robbed him. Another McCarthy Flowered Cab driver found Darbenzio just before 5 a.m. Hours later, police found Richardson hiding in the attic at 1009-1011 Washburn St.

He faces first-, second- and third-degree murder, robbery and related charges. He remains in Lackawanna County Prison without bail and is scheduled for a preliminary hearing Friday at 11 a.m.

rbrown@timesshamrock.com, @rbrownTT