An 18-year-old woman allegedly killed a Seattle Uber driver and then used the victim’s car to run errands for nearly three days. According to PEOPLE, police in a statement said the fatal August 8 carjacking occurred around 3:30 am.
Police said the suspect, identified as Ne’iana Allen-Bailey, opened fire on 52-year-old Amare Geda after approaching his car. Authorities don’t suspect the shooter had patronized rideshare services. In the wake of the fatal shooting, police said Allen-Bailey drove away with the victim’s Toyota Prius.
Arrest documents also stated that she subsequently “drove around in [the victim’s] Toyota Prius for the next 2.5 days. She visited her mother and brother in Skyway. She bought and smoked some marijuana in Rainier Beach. She drove down to Kent and got her hair done. She put $20 worth of gas in the car in Renton at the Brown Bear Car Wash/Chevron.”
Authorities ultimately arrested the suspect after three days and charged her with murder. She is being held on a $2 million bond.
Geda, who hails from Ethiopia, was a member of the Seattle Rideshare Drivers Association. The association in a statement on Facebook said Geda worked two jobs to support his family, adding that he was a driver at night and an airport worker during the day.
“This is the second killing in the last six months. Seattle’s Uber and Lyft drivers are very concerned about their safety,” the association said. “How long will it take for the community and our local lawmakers to realize that the safety of drivers is the safety of riders?”
The association also said Geda’s wife became “critically ill because of the method the police described to her the death of her husband.” “We have cultural relevance as immigrants and a serious message needs to be conveyed in the right way,” the statement added.
A GoFundMe has since been set up to help raise funds for Geda’s family as well as for his funeral in his native Ethiopia. “Amare was more than a father; he was his family’s rock.” the GoFundMe, which has raised over $75,000, states.
“He worked tirelessly day and night to care for his wife and two children. His love and dedication were unwavering. In an unthinkable act of violence, Amare fell victim to a senseless crime. His family is shattered, their hearts broken. He was just trying to provide for them.”
