Georgia teen charged with murdering Uber driver in suburban carjacking, leaving him to die

A 15-year-old lad has been charged arsenic an big with execution aft an Uber operator was recovered changeable to decease aboriginal New Year’s Day aft a carjacking successful a suburban Atlanta community, authorities said.

The unfortunate was identified arsenic Cesar Tejada, 58, of Grayson, Georgia, who was moving arsenic an Uber operator astatine the clip of the shooting, according to a merchandise from the Lawrenceville Police Department. Authorities said that Tejada was a begetter of two.

Police responded astir 5:20 a.m. Jan. 1 to a study of a idiosyncratic lying successful the roadway successful the suburban assemblage of Lawrenceville, which is astir 30 miles northeast of Atlanta. Officers recovered Tejada suffering from a gunshot wound, and helium was pronounced dormant astatine the scene.

Investigators determined that Tejada had picked up the fishy astir 4:13 a.m. and transported him to Groveland Parkway. Police said the fishy exited the backmost seat, changeable Tejada and near him successful the roadworthy earlier fleeing the scene.

An Uber operator was recovered changeable to decease successful the roadway of the adjacent 600 artifact of Groveland Parkway successful the Meadow Grove subdivision Jan. 1, 2026.  (WAGA-TV)

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Using FLOCK camera exertion and moving successful concern with Uber, detectives tracked Tejada’s conveyance backmost to the country wherever the travel originated. Officers aboriginal detained the suspect, identified arsenic 15-year-old Christian Simmons, aft observing him walking successful the roadway adjacent his residence, constabulary said.

Simmons and has been charged arsenic an big with murder. Police initially withheld his individuality owed to his age.

Christian Simmons, 15, was charged with execution arsenic an big aft Uber operator Cesar Tejada, 58, was recovered changeable to decease successful Lawrenceville, Georgia, connected New Year's Day. (Lawrenceville Police Department/Facebook)

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In a connection to Fox News Digital, an Uber spokesperson said the institution is saddened by Tejada's death.

"We’re saddened by this devastating loss, and our condolences spell retired to the driver’s household during this incredibly hard time," the spokesperson said. "We’ve been successful interaction with the Lawrenceville Police Department to assistance enactment their investigation."

Uber confirmed the rider relationship associated with the incidental has been permanently banned. The institution said it employs erstwhile instrumentality enforcement professionals to assistance with investigations and offers in-app information features specified arsenic an exigency assistance button, GPS travel tracking and rider verification.

The Lawrenceville Police Department discovered a deceased Uber operator successful the roadway of the adjacent 600 artifact of Groveland Parkway successful the Meadow Grove subdivision Jan. 1, 2026. (WAGA-TV)

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Police described Tejada arsenic a hubby and begetter of 2 and extended condolences to his family. The probe remains ongoing, and anyone with accusation is urged to interaction the Lawrenceville Police Department.