A 15-year-old was charged as an adult with murder after an Uber driver was found shot to death early on January 1 in Lawrenceville, a suburban community about 30 kilometers northeast of Atlanta, authorities said.

The victim was identified as Cesar Tejada, 58, a resident of Grayson, Georgia, was working as an Uber driver at the time of the crime, according to the Lawrenceville Police Department. Tejada was a husband and father of two. Police responded around 5:20 a.m. to a report of a person lying in the street. Upon arrival, officers found Tejada with a gunshot wound and pronounced him dead at the scene. Vehicle Theft and Suspect's Flight: According to the preliminary investigation, Tejada picked up the suspect around 4:13 a.m. and drove him to Groveland Parkway. Upon arriving at the destination, the passenger got out of the back seat, shot the driver, and left him for dead on the road before fleeing with the vehicle. Using FLOCK camera technology and in coordination with Uber, detectives were able to track the car back to the area where the trip had originated. Hours later, officers arrested the suspect as he walked near his residence. He was identified as 15-year-old Christian Simmons, who now faces murder charges as an adult. Initially, police withheld his identity due to his age. Uber's Reaction and Investigation Update: In a statement, an Uber spokesperson expressed the company's sorrow over the driver's death. "We deeply regret this devastating loss and send our condolences to the driver's family during this difficult time," the spokesperson said, while confirming the company's cooperation with authorities.Uber also reported that the passenger's account linked to the incident was permanently blocked and highlighted that the platform has safety features such as GPS tracking, an emergency button, and passenger verification. Lawrenceville police reiterated their condolences to the family of Cesar Tejada and noted that the investigation remains open. Authorities requested that anyone with relevant information about the case contact the police department.