A New Year’s Day ride turned deadly after an Uber driver was allegedly shot and killed during a carjacking — and police say the suspect is just 15 years old.
Authorities in Lawrenceville believe the teenage suspect fatally shot the driver before dumping his body in the street and driving off with his vehicle. The teen has since been arrested and will be charged as an adult, according to police.
Officers with the Lawrenceville Police Department were called just after 5:20 a.m. Thursday to the 600 block of Groveland Parkway after reports of a person lying in the roadway. When they arrived, they found a man dead at the scene with at least one gunshot wound.
As investigators began piecing together the moments leading up to the killing, Ring doorbell footage from the area revealed chilling details. The video showed a black SUV stopping in the street, the victim being dropped off, and the vehicle then speeding away. Detectives later confirmed the SUV belonged to the victim.
Police determined the man — identified only as a 58-year-old Uber driver — had been carjacked, and that the carjacking ultimately led to his death.
Hours later, around 1 p.m., officers tracked the stolen vehicle to a home on Hardwood Circle in Lilburn. A 15-year-old boy was taken into custody at that location and charged as an adult with murder.
In a statement shared with CBS News Atlanta, a spokesperson for Uber said the company was devastated by the loss. “We’re saddened by this devastating loss, and our condolences go out to the driver’s family during this incredibly difficult time,” the statement read. Uber confirmed it has banned the rider’s account and is cooperating with the investigation.
Police have not released the victim’s name as they continue working to notify next of kin. The identity of the suspect is also being withheld due to his age.
The investigation remains ongoing, and authorities are asking anyone with information related to the case to contact the Lawrenceville Police Department.