A 15-year-old boy has been charged with murder as an adult following the fatal shooting of an Uber driver during a carjacking on New Year’s Day in a suburb of Atlanta, authorities reported.
The victim, identified as 58-year-old Cesar Tejada from Grayson, Georgia, was driving for Uber when the incident occurred. He was a father of two.
Police received a call around 5:20 a.m. on January 1 about someone lying in the street in Lawrenceville, located approximately 30 miles northeast of Atlanta.
Upon arrival, officers discovered Tejada with gunshot wounds and he was pronounced dead at the scene.
Investigators found that Tejada had picked up the suspect around 4:13 a.m. and taken him to Groveland Parkway. After exiting the vehicle, the suspect shot Tejada, leaving him on the road before fleeing.
Detectives utilized FLOCK camera technology in conjunction with Uber to track the vehicle involved and link it back to the origins of the trip.
Police eventually located the suspect, Christian Simmons, 15, walking near his home and took him into custody.
Simmons was charged with murder but his name was withheld initially due to his age.
In a statement, an Uber representative expressed sadness over Tejada’s death. They extended condolences to his family, stating they are cooperating with law enforcement in the investigation.
The company also confirmed that the passenger accounts related to the incident have been permanently banned.
To enhance safety, Uber stated that they hired former law enforcement experts to aid in the investigation and are providing features like an emergency assistance button and GPS tracking within their app.
Described by police as a husband and father, Tejada’s family has received condolences from the community. The investigation is still active, and anyone with information is encouraged to reach out to the Lawrenceville Police Department.
