El Paso Uber driver's family faces life support decision after loved one shot during ride
EL PASO, Texas (CBS4) — The family of an El Paso Uber driver who was shot in the head said they'll soon have to decide if they should take him off life support.
Daniel Piedra Garcia, 52, was shot by his passenger, 48-year-old Phoebe Copas of Tompkinsville Kentucky, on U.S. 54 near Loop 375, police said.
Garcia was taken to University Medical Center where he is in critical condition following Friday's shooting.
"It was just shocking, hard to believe, a lot of us had seen the news but we never even imagined, it never crossed our mind that it was going to be him," Didi Lopez, Piedra's niece, said.
"He was really excited to be driving for Uber. He was already providing for his family; not only that he was meeting so many people," Lopez said.
Copas told police she shot Piedra because she thought he was kidnapping her when she saw an exit sign for Juarez, Mexico, court documents stated.
Lopez believed that stereotypes about the border may have led to her uncle being shot.
"They make assumptions, they see stuff maybe on the news, maybe on social media, and stuff that’s not necessarily true and when they come here they come without really knowing," Lopez said.
The family said he is a loving man who wanted to provide for those he loves and while he doesn't have children of his own, he has many godchildren, who were devastated at the thought of losing him.
"I miss him, and I wish this wouldn’t have happened to him. He didn’t deserve that, no one deserves that," Lopez said.
Court documents stated Copas didn't call 911 right away. She reportedly took a photo of Piedra and sent it to her boyfriend who she called first before finally calling for help.
"For someone who was fearing for her life, you would think that the first thing you would do is call the authorities, but she took other actions," Lopez said.
Lopez said neurologists told the family there is nothing more they can do to help Piedra.
"It’s hard. We still had hope that maybe he would be okay and wake up, so now we just basically have to decide what our next step is," Lopez said.
Lopez said Uber contacted the family and offered their support and would provide for whatever they needed.
"They called my aunt today, and they basically just asked her what she needed that they would be able to provide," Lopez said.
CBS4 reached out to Uber for comment and a spokesperson responded:
We are horrified by the rider’s actions. Violence is not tolerated on the Uber platform and we banned the rider as soon as we were made aware of what occurred. Our thoughts are with Mr. Garcia and his loved ones, and have been in touch with his family. Our Public Safety Team stands at the ready to assist police as needed.
The family said as they try to move forward they want justice for Piedra.
"I’m hoping she gets the maximum because if she did this to us she can do it to anybody," Lopez said.
Copas is jailed on a $1 million bond and has a bond hearing on Friday.
She is charged with aggravated assault causing serious bodily injury, which is a second-degree felony.
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