Teen Charged in New Year's Death of Georgia Uber Driver

After being summoned by 15-year-old Christian Simmons, Uber driver Cesar Tejada picked him up from Lilburn and drove him to his destination about 20 minutes away and police said that's where Tejada died.

Juliette Fairley

Published: 1/5/2026, 1:54:44 PM EST

Teen Charged in New Year's Death of Georgia Uber Driver — A Lyft decal is seen on a car in the pick-up area at JFK Airport in New York City, on April 28, 2023. (Michael Santiago/Getty Images)

A rideshare driver was shot and killed on New Year’s Day in Georgia and law enforcement officials have identified a suspect.

Christian Simmons, 15, was charged as an adult in the murder of Cesar Tejada of Grayson, Georgia, who was working to make extra money for his family as an Uber driver, according to a Lawrenceville Police Department (LPD) press release.

Police said after being summoned by Simmons, Tejada picked him up from Lilburn and drove to him to his destination about 20 minutes away.

“The suspect exited the back seat of the vehicle, shot Mr. Tejada and left him in the roadway,” LPD officials said. “Officers later located Mr. Tejada's vehicle in the same area where the Uber trip originated.”

Through Uber technology, detectives determined that Tejada picked up the suspect on Range Wood Drive off of old Snellville Highway in Gwinnett County at about 4:13 a.m. and transported him to the 600 block of Groveland Parkway.

Gwinnett is about 41 minutes away from Atlanta by car.

“Upon arrival, officers located Mr. Tejada who was suffering from a gunshot wound,” police said. “He was pronounced deceased at the scene through the use of flock camera technology.”

Police said that Tejada, who was driving a black SUV, leaves behind a wife and two children.

Flock Technology is a public safety ecosystem that can solve crimes with technology that reads license plates and finger prints, according to the FlockSafety website.

“The only reason your [license] tag would ever be searched is if it were part of resolving a crime, whether you're the victim or the suspect,” Lawrenceville Police Captain Dena Pauly told reporters at a press conference streamed on YouTube. “In my opinion, the only people that shouldn't be apprehensive of Flock is somebody who's doing something that they shouldn't.”

In addition to Flock technology, police said Uber provided a timeline and records and ring camera data was also used to solved the alleged crime.

Uber did not respond to requests for comment by the time of publication.

“We don't have any motive other than Mr. Simmons wanted the vehicle,” Pauly told reporters. “Multiple jurisdictions have had encounters with Mr. Simmons. Our detectives have been in contact with the suspect's mother. That was via telephone yesterday after the interview.”

A GoFundMe page was created by Tejada’s wife, Evelyn. She said the day her husband died was a typical work day for him.

“He left the house not knowing that it would be his last time,” she wrote. “He started his routine picking up a random passenger unaware of what was coming. Cesar was the pillar of our home. He was an exemplary man and excellent husband. He was a great father to our two children. A good son, friend and human being.”