A 15-year-old boy has been charged as an adult with murder after police say he shot an Uber driver during a carjacking in a Lawrenceville subdivision on New Year’s Day, left the victim in the roadway and fled in the stolen SUV before being arrested near his home.
Authorities identified the driver as Cesar Tejada, 58, of Grayson, a husband and father of two who was working a pre-dawn fare when the attack occurred. Lawrenceville police say they used automated license-plate cameras and help from Uber to trace Tejada’s vehicle within hours and take a suspect into custody. The case moves into the charging and court-review phase this week as detectives finish interviews and evidence logs. Officials say the killing underscores a string of early-year violent crimes under review in metro Atlanta, with investigators focusing on how the teen arranged the ride and what happened in the final minutes before the shooting.
Police were called around 5:20 a.m. Thu., Jan. 1, to the 600 block of Groveland Parkway in the Meadow Grove subdivision after reports of a person lying in the street. Officers found Tejada with a gunshot wound; he was pronounced dead at the scene. Investigators determined he had picked up a rider about 4:13 a.m. on Rangewood Drive in Lilburn and driven to Groveland Parkway, a trip of several miles across the Gwinnett County line. Detectives say the rider got out of the back seat, shot Tejada and pulled him from the vehicle before driving away. “It’s a senseless act and not the way any family would want to start a new year,” Lawrenceville Police Capt. Dena Pauly said in a briefing.
By late morning, detectives said, camera hits and neighborhood video helped plot the SUV’s movements back toward the pickup area. Officers detained a boy later identified as Christian Simmons of Lilburn after seeing him walking near a residence; investigators say evidence linked him to the ride and the stolen vehicle. Simmons is charged as an adult with murder. Police initially withheld his name because of his age but later released it after conferring with prosecutors. Officials have not said whether they recovered a firearm or what caliber was used. They also have not released the vehicle’s make and model or whether any other property was taken. No other injuries were reported, and police said there is no indication of an argument before the shot was fired.
Tejada’s death occurred on a quiet cul-de-sac off Groveland Parkway, a residential street about 30 miles northeast of downtown Atlanta. Neighbors awoke to flashing lights as patrol cars blocked the subdivision entrances and detectives canvassed for doorbell footage. The family’s pastor and friends gathered at a nearby home as word spread that Tejada had died at the scene. Uber said it permanently banned the rider account tied to the trip and is assisting police; the company also expressed condolences to Tejada’s relatives. Community members left flowers near the curb where officers placed evidence markers and mapped shell casing locations during the morning investigation.
Records show Gwinnett County prosecutors can seek to indict a 15-year-old on murder charges in Superior Court, where the case proceeds in adult criminal jurisdiction. After booking, a first appearance typically occurs in Magistrate Court to address counsel and scheduling, followed by a presentation to a grand jury. Authorities have not announced a hearing date. Detectives said they are reviewing phone data, ride-hailing records and video from fixed cameras to establish a minute-by-minute timeline from the 4:13 a.m. pickup to the 5:20 a.m. 9-1-1 call. The medical examiner will finalize cause and manner of death after autopsy; preliminary findings list a gunshot wound.
Tejada, who lived in nearby Grayson, had been working overnight to support his family, police said. A neighbor said the subdivision was quiet in the early morning cold until sirens echoed through the cul-de-sac. Another resident described seeing a dark SUV idling with its lights on around dawn and then crime-scene tape stretched across the block as the sun came up. Detectives spent several hours photographing the roadway, knocking on doors and collecting footage from porch cameras. “We extend our deepest condolences to the Tejada family during this incredibly difficult time,” Pauly said.
As of Sunday, Simmons remained in custody as detectives compiled reports for prosecutors. Officials said the next update is expected after an initial court appearance early this week or when charging documents are filed with Superior Court. Investigators are still seeking additional video from the Rangewood Drive pickup zone and along the route into Lawrenceville to close gaps in the timeline.
Author note: Last updated January 4, 2026.