A chilling report from police in Georgia alleges that a 15-year-old boy ordered an Uber ride on New Year’s Day and then proceeded to shoot the driver dead.
According to the Lawrenceville Police Department, 15-year-old Christian Simmons has been charged as an adult with the murder of 58-year-old Cesar Tejeda. In a press release, the department said Tejeda was working as an Uber driver to provide for his family.
It was approximately 5:20 a.m. Thursday when officers responded to the 600 block of Groveland Parkway in reference to a report of a person down in the roadway, the authorities said. They found Tejeda deceased at the scene and saw that he had suffered from at least one gunshot wound.
“During the investigation, officers obtained Ring doorbell video footage that showed a black SUV stopping in the roadway, dropping off the victim, and then leaving the area,” said the department. "Through the use of investigative technology, detectives were able to identify the vehicle and determined it belonged to the victim.”
Per the Lawrenceville police, FLOCK camera technology often used to track license plates was also utilized to investigate the apparent slaying. FLOCK footage helped detectives determine that Tejeda picked up the suspect on Rangewood Drive at approximately 4:13 a.m. Thursday and transported the suspect to the 600 block of Groveland Parkway where Tejeda’s body was found.
Simmons allegedly “exited the back seat of the vehicle, shot Mr. Tejeda and left him in the roadway,” according to police. Initially, the incident was described as a “carjacking.”
There was a spike in these carjacking crimes during the COVID-19 pandemic, and Audacy has reported on the “Kia Boys” carjackings, often by committed young offenders and sometimes linked to social media challenges. In New Orleans, La., a 72-year-old woman was dragged to her death in a notably brutal carjacking incident.
By 1 p.m. Thursday, Tejeda’s vehicle was tracked and located at a residence on Hardwood Circle in Lilburn, Ga. That’s where Simmons was allegedly taken into custody.