California Uber driver shot dead in LA carjacking

A California father-of-two and Marine Corps veteran was shot dead early Friday morning while driving for Uber.

Aaron Orozco, 38, picked up two male passengers and then stopped at a 7-Eleven in Lynwood, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

“During the initial investigation, deputies learned that the victim was a ride-along passenger and had taken two black adult males,” the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said in a press release.

The Uber driver and the two passengers got into a “physical altercation” in the 7-Eleven parking lot, according to police. Around 1:30 a.m. Friday, one of the passengers pulled out a gun and shot Orozco in the torso. The father of two was pronounced dead at the scene.

One of the suspects fled on foot, and the other person stole Orozco’s black Honda Accord. Police found the vehicle abandoned near the scene of the crime.

The two suspects are still at large. Anyone with information about the shooting is urged to contact the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Homicide Office at (323) 890-5500. You can tip Crime Stoppers anonymously at 800-222-TIPS (8477).

Orozco is survived by his wife Sandra Medina, a 9-year-old son and a 3-year-old daughter.

Medina tells KTTV“It just feels like I’m in a nightmare. It doesn’t feel real to me. I haven’t even told my kids yet, they still think daddy will walk through the door.”

“I am still shocked. I can’t believe this happened to our family. I just don’t know how to react right now, really. It’s just so hard,” the widow said.

“I just hope they find them because they caused this mess in my life and my family’s life,” Medina said KABC TV. “And you know, now I don’t have my husband with me anymore. And it changed my life so much. So I really hope they catch her.”

Orozco and Medina had been married for 10 years but were high school sweethearts.

During his time in the Marines, Orozco served on three deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan.

Orozco worked overnight for Uber so he could take care of her children while she worked as a nurse during the day. He had been an Uber driver for four years.

About told FoxNews A statement said: “Our hearts go out to Mr Orozco Figueroa’s family as they cope with this unfathomable tragedy and we have reached out to offer our condolences. We have blocked the driver’s account and are working with the police on their investigation.”

Uber said the ride-sharing company’s public safety team is working with detectives to bring Orozco’s killer to justice.

7-Eleven is also cooperating with the police during their investigations.

A GoFundMe a campaign was launched to help Orozco’s family financially. The crowdfunding campaign had a goal of $20,000 but had raised $70,000 at the time of publication.

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