Texas Uber driver shot by passenger after altercation with group of four over changing drop-off location
HOUSTON, TEXAS: An Uber driver was shot by a passenger earlier this week after an argument over taking him to another location. The shooting reportedly took place after 10 pm on Sunday, November 27 when driver Daniel Teheri dropped off four passengers - two men and two women - at a Shell station on Quitman Street in Houston.
Upon their arrival, one of the male passengers tried to change the location and demanded to be driven to another address, but Teheri refused. And that’s when the passenger took out his gun and held the driver at gunpoint. He then ordered him to get out of the vehicle and leave his keys and mobile phone behind. Investigators said Teheri refused, and that's when shots were fired.
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Daniel’s sister, Ensi Teheri, claimed the bullet would have caused more damage to her brother if he hadn't moved his body at the last moment. "They couldn't find a bullet on him. I think it went in angled. I think it went inside, probably, the seat of the car," she told ABC. All four passengers then fled from the scene and left a bleeding Teheri at the gas station. The cabbie was then rushed to the hospital with a deep wound, needing blood, fluids, and stitches. However, he now has been discharged from the hospital and is recovering at his home.
Houston police have launched an investigation into the matter and are working with Uber to locate the suspects. "There is no place for violence on the Uber platform, and what this driver experienced is truly atrocious. We're working to get in touch with the driver to check in on their well-being and offer our support and have banned the rider account from the platform. We stand ready to assist police however we can," a spokesperson for Uber said in a statement regarding the incident.
The company also said that Ride Check was activated in this instance. The feature helps make sure drivers and riders are okay during an unexpected, long stop. Teheri said that the safety feature alone wasn't enough to protect against the bigger problem of gun violence. "It's something that I think definitely needs to be controlled. Everybody has access to a gun, and it's not something that's right," he said.
Police have contacted the gas station for any CCTV footage that might help them in their investigation as they hunt for the suspect. Anyone with evidence or dashboard footage have been asked to contact law enforcement.