A 15-year-old has been charged as an adult with murder after 58-year-old Uber driver Cesar Tejada was fatally shot following an early-morning carjacking in Lawrenceville, Georgia. Police say Tejada picked up the suspect at about 4:13 a.m., was driven to Groveland Parkway, shot and left in the roadway; officers arrived around 5:20 a.m. Detectives used FLOCK camera technology and worked with Uber to trace the vehicle and detain 15-year-old Christian Simmons. The investigation is ongoing and police are seeking tips.
15-Year-Old Charged As Adult After Uber Driver Fatally Shot During Early-Morning Carjacking in Georgia
Georgia teen charged with murdering Uber driver in suburban carjacking, leaving him to die
A 15-year-old boy has been charged as an adult with murder after an Uber driver was found shot to death following an early New Year’s Day carjacking in Lawrenceville, a suburban community about 30 miles northeast of Atlanta, authorities said.
An Uber driver was found shot to death in the roadway of the nearby 600 block of Groveland Parkway in the Meadow Grove subdivision Jan. 1, 2026.
The victim was identified by the Lawrenceville Police Department as Cesar Tejada, 58, of Grayson, Georgia. Tejada was working as an Uber driver at the time of the incident. Police and family described him as a husband and father of two.
Christian Simmons, 15, was charged with murder as an adult after Uber driver Cesar Tejada, 58, was found shot to death in Lawrenceville, Georgia, on New Year's Day.
Officers responded around 5:20 a.m. on Jan. 1 to a report of a person lying in the roadway. First responders found Tejada suffering from a gunshot wound; he was pronounced dead at the scene.
The Lawrenceville Police Department discovered a deceased Uber driver in the roadway of the nearby 600 block of Groveland Parkway in the Meadow Grove subdivision Jan. 1, 2026.
According to investigators, Tejada picked up a passenger at about 4:13 a.m. and drove to Groveland Parkway. Police said the passenger exited the back seat, shot Tejada, and left him in the road before fleeing the area.
Investigation and Arrest
Detectives used FLOCK camera technology and worked with Uber to trace the vehicle back to the neighborhood where the ride originated. Officers later detained the suspect, identified as Christian Simmons, 15, after observing him walking in the roadway near his residence. Simmons has been charged as an adult with murder; his identity was initially withheld because of his age.
Police said the investigation is ongoing and asked anyone with information to contact the Lawrenceville Police Department.
Statement From Uber
In a statement, an Uber spokesperson said the company is saddened by the loss and has been assisting the Lawrenceville Police Department. Uber confirmed the rider account linked to the trip has been permanently banned and noted the platform's in-app safety features, including an emergency assistance button, GPS trip tracking, and rider verification.
Authorities continue to investigate the case. No further court or motive details were released at the time of the report.
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