Police: Taxi cab thieves left flower trail

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BOSTON, May 15 (UPI) -- Boston police said they arrested two men accused of hijacking a taxi cab and leaving a trail of flower petals during a foot chase.

Police said Brian Cunneen, 21, of Lowell, and Shawn Hickey, 40, of Boston, took a ride in a taxi cab Sunday and Hickey allegedly pulled a realistic-looking pellet handgun on the driver when two of his credit cards were declined, the Boston Herald reported Tuesday.

The driver fled when the men demanded his money and they gave chase, shooting him twice in the chest with the pellet gun, police said.

Investigators said Hickey briefly stole the cab and left Cunneen behind, but was forced to abandon the vehicle when he crashed it into two cars and the two men fled together on foot.

Police said a trail of flower petals From Cunneen's "orange, yellow and red floral arrangement" led them to a knife the men abandoned while fleeing and officers were able to catch up to the suspects.

Both men were charged with armed carjacking and armed robbery. Hickey was also charged with assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and leaving the scene of an accident. The men were ordered held without bail.