Uber and other ridesharing services have become a go-to job option for pretty much anyone with a car, some free time and a (relatively) clean criminal record. It is quicker and easier for both passengers and drivers than, say, a taxi, and laws have even recently been changed to accommodate Uber at the airport. That’s not to say, however, that driving Uber doesn’t have its risks.
In early January, a father and daughter decided to take an Uber home from the local MARTA station. It was early in the morning, around 5 a.m. The daughter had just moved to the area. and As they were unloading their luggage, a man in a yellow bandana and gray hooded sweatshirt approached them. The man pushed the father and daughter into the house, demanding money at gunpoint, according to Atlanta police officer Donald Hannah.
The daughter threw her purse at the robber, along with her wallet and iPhone. He caught the purse and took off. Moments later, they heard a single gunshot, then a thud. Though the robber had not harmed either passenger, he did shoot the driver at least once in the left side. The driver tried to escape in this car, but he struck a utility pole and stopped a short distance later. As the robber approached the car, the Uber driver noticed there was another man with him.
Thankfully, the Uber driver was not fatally injured. He was taken to Grady Memorial Hospital in stable condition. The stolen iPhone was dropped just a few blocks away from the crime scene. No other details about the driver, passengers or criminals were released.
If you or a loved one has been injured or killed by a gun crime in Atlanta, you have legal rights, including compensation. Contact Mike Rafi at Rafi Law Firm today for a free consultation.