A California Marine Corps veteran and father of two was shot and killed whereas driving for Uber on Friday morning.
Aaron Orozco, 38, was driving for the rideshare firm when he acquired right into a “bodily altercation” with two of his passengers at a 7-Eleven car parking zone in Lynwood, in response to Los Angeles police.
Through the altercation, one of many suspects shot the veteran earlier than fleeing the scene within the sufferer’s Honda Accord.
Police mentioned the driving force, later recognized by household as Orozco, suffered a gunshot wound to the higher torso whereas the suspects stay at massive as of early Sunday.
The automobile was discovered deserted a brief distance away from the taking pictures, in response to authorities.
“It simply looks as if I’m in a nightmare. It doesn’t appear actual to me,” Sandra Medina, Orozco’s spouse, told Fox 11. “I haven’t even instructed my youngsters but, they nonetheless assume dad goes to return by means of the door.”
Orozco leaves behind his spouse of 10 years, a 9-year-old son and a 3-year-old daughter.
He had been driving for Uber for 4 years and started driving at evening to handle the couple’s two youngsters whereas Medina labored as a nurse, in response to the outlet.
“Our hearts are with Mr. Orozco Figueroa’s household as they deal with this unfathomable tragedy, and we now have reached out to supply our condolences,” Uber mentioned in a press release to Fox11. “We banned the rider’s account and are working with police on their investigation.”
Earlier than driving for Uber, Orozco served in america Marine Corps and was stationed at Camp Pendleton from 2001-2005.
Orozco had been on three deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan throughout his 4 years of service and was a fight veteran.
“I simply actually hope that they discover [the suspects] as a result of … they created this chaos in my life, in my household’s life and now … I don’t have my husband with me and it’s simply modified my life round, so I actually hope that they do catch them,” Medina told ABC7.
Automobile theft in 2022 spiked 4.3% greater than in 2021 in Los Angeles County, leaping a regarding 61.5% greater since 2019, in response to LAPD data.
