An Uber driver's worst nightmare unfolded Sunday night when a female passenger allegedly saw an unfamiliar street sign as they traveled and shot him dead in the mistaken belief he had kidnapped her.
Phoebe Copas, 48, of Kentucky, remains in jail in El Paso, Tx., after shooting Daniel Piedra Garcia, 52, in the head mistakenly believing she was being kidnapped and taken to Mexico, according to police. Copas was charged with murder.
Per reports, the shooting took place as Piedra was driving Copas to her destination in far southeast El Paso. Copas was in El Paso visiting her boyfriend, according to authorities, and when she saw a sign for 'Juarez, Mexico,' believed she was being kidnapped and taken to Mexico.
"At some point during the drive, Copas thought she was being taken into Mexico and shot Piedra. The investigation does not support that a kidnapping took place or that Piedra was veering from Copas' destination," says a statement from El Paso police.
Police allege that Copas took a photo of Piedra after the shooting and texted it to her boyfriend.
A Go Fund Me says the victim, a father and husband, was shot June 16th, but had been hospitalized since then. His family disconnected his life support seven days ago and he died.
More than $74,000 has been raised for his family.
"My husband Daniel Piedra was working for Uber when his passenger shot him in the head. He is the sole provider for our family and was unable to work for a while because he hurt his knee at his last job and had to have surgery on April 18, 2023. He was very happy to finally be able to work and bring home income," his wife wrote on the fundraising site.
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