LAWRENCEVILLE — A 15-year-old boy has been charged as an adult with murder after police say he shot and killed an Uber driver during a carjacking early New Year’s Day in Gwinnett County.
Officers responded about 5:20 a.m. Thursday to the 600 block of Groveland Parkway in Lawrenceville after a 911 caller reported a person lying in the roadway, police said. They found 58-year-old Cesar Antonio Tejada of Grayson suffering from at least one gunshot wound. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Investigators said Tejada was working as an Uber driver and had picked up the suspect around 4:13 a.m. on Rangewood Drive in Lilburn. The ride ended in the Groveland Parkway area, where police say the suspect exited the back seat, shot Tejada and removed him from the vehicle before fleeing.
Authorities said there was no argument or prior relationship between the driver and passenger, and detectives believe the motive was to steal the vehicle. Tejada’s body was left in the roadway as the suspect drove away in the SUV.
Police used neighborhood surveillance video, doorbell camera footage, FLOCK safety technology and trip data provided by Uber to track the stolen vehicle. Officers located it later Thursday at a home on Hardwood Circle in Lilburn, where the suspect was taken into custody around 1 p.m.
The suspect, identified as Christian Simmons of Lilburn, is being prosecuted as an adult. He faces charges including murder, hijacking a motor vehicle, aggravated assault, possession of a weapon during the commission of a felony, and possession of a firearm by a person under 18. A booking photo has not been released because of his age.
Police have not said how many times Tejada was shot or whether the firearm has been recovered. The investigation remains ongoing.
Uber said it was saddened by the driver’s death and extended condolences to Tejada’s family. The company said the rider account associated with the trip has been permanently banned and that it is cooperating with law enforcement.
Tejada was described by police as a husband and father of two who was working early morning hours to support his family. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Lawrenceville Police Department.
