> At a Glance
> – Christian Simmons, 15, allegedly shot Uber driver Cesar Tejada, 58, on Jan. 1 at 5:20 a.m.
> – Police say the teen exited the back seat and shot Tejada on Groveland Parkway, then left him in the roadway
> – Motive believed to be vehicle theft; no evidence of an argument before the shooting
> – Why it matters: A family starts the year grieving a father of two killed during what should have been a routine rideshare trip
A 15-year-old Georgia boy began the new year behind bars, charged as an adult with murder after police say he shot his Uber driver and abandoned the man’s body on a Lawrenceville street.
The Shooting
Lawrenceville officers found Cesar Tejada lying on Groveland Parkway shortly after 5:20 a.m. on Jan. 1. He had been shot once and was pronounced dead at the scene.
FLOCK license-plate cameras showed Tejada picked up Simmons on Rangewood Drive at 4:15 a.m. Minutes later, investigators say, the teen climbed out of the rear seat, shot the driver, and fled.
Lawrenceville Police Capt. Dena Pauly called it:
> “A senseless act and not the way any family would want to start a new year.”
The Arrest
Detectives tracked Tejada’s car back to the pickup location and set up surveillance. When Simmons left his residence, officers detained him without incident.
- Charge: Malice murder
- Prosecution: Charged as an adult
- Motive: Vehicle theft; no prior argument reported
Family’s Loss
Evelyn Tejada Tatis, the victim’s wife, wrote on GoFundMe:
> “He was the pillar of our home… a great father to our two children. A good son, friend and human being.”
The fundraising page has surpassed $8,000 since Jan. 4.
Uber confirmed the ride was booked through its platform and said it:
- Banned the rider account
- Provided data to police
- Offers in-app emergency button and GPS tracking
Key Takeaways
- A 15-year-old suspect is being prosecuted as an adult for murdering an Uber driver on New Year’s Day
- License-plate cameras were crucial in identifying the suspect within hours
- Victim Cesar Tejada leaves behind a wife and two children who describe him as a hard-working, calm provider
The family now faces 2025 planning a funeral instead of celebrating new beginnings.
