A 15-year-old has been formally charged as an adult in connection with the murder of an Uber driver, who was tragically shot during a carjacking on New Year’s Day in a suburb of Atlanta, as reported by local authorities.

The victim, identified as 58-year-old Cesar Tejada from Grayson, Georgia, was working as an Uber driver when the incident occurred, according to a statement from the Lawrenceville Police Department. Tejada was a devoted father of two children.

Police responded to a distress call at approximately 5:20 a.m. on January 1, reporting an individual lying on the roadway in Lawrenceville, a community situated about 30 miles from Atlanta. Upon arrival, officers discovered Tejada with a fatal gunshot wound, and he was declared dead at the scene.

Investigations revealed that Tejada had picked up the alleged perpetrator around 4:13 a.m. and drove him to Groveland Parkway. Upon arrival, the suspect reportedly exited the vehicle, shot Tejada, and left him on the road before escaping the scene.

The Uber driver was ultimately found shot on the roadway in the 600 block of Groveland Parkway, within the Meadow Grove subdivision, on January 1, 2026. (WAGA-TV)

Using FLOCK camera technology and working in partnership with Uber, detectives tracked Tejada’s vehicle back to the area where the trip originated. Officers later detained the suspect, identified as 15-year-old Christian Simmons, after observing him walking in the roadway near his residence, police said.

Simmons has been charged as an adult with murder. Police initially withheld his identity due to his age.

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. (Lawrenceville Police Department/Facebook)

In a statement to Fox News Digital, an Uber spokesperson said the company is saddened by Tejada’s death.

“We’re saddened by this devastating loss, and our condolences go out to the driver’s family during this incredibly difficult time,” the spokesperson said. “We’ve been in contact with the Lawrenceville Police Department to help support their investigation.”

Uber confirmed the rider account associated with the incident has been permanently banned. The company said it employs former law enforcement professionals to assist with investigations and offers in-app safety features such as an emergency assistance button, GPS trip tracking and rider verification.

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. (WAGA-TV)

Police described Tejada as a husband and father of two and extended condolences to his family. The investigation remains ongoing, and anyone with information is urged to contact the Lawrenceville Police Department.