Crime
15-Year-Old Christian Simmons Charged With Murder in Fatal Carjacking of Uber Driver Cesar Tejeda
LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. — Authorities are investigating a deadly carjacking that claimed the life of a husband and father of two who was working as an Uber driver in the early morning hours Thursday, an act police have described as “senseless.”
The victim was identified as Cesar Tejeda, a resident of Grayson, Georgia. According to the Lawrenceville Police Department, Tejeda was driving a black SUV for Uber when he accepted a ride request shortly after 4:13 a.m. on Groveland Parkway.
Investigators said surveillance video shows that after the ride concluded, the passenger exited the vehicle, walked around to the driver’s side door, and shot Tejeda.
Police said the suspect then pulled Tejeda from the SUV and fled the scene in the stolen vehicle.
Approximately 10 minutes later, detectives reported that the suspect returned briefly to the area before driving the stolen SUV to a residential neighborhood in Lilburn.
Using a combination of FLOCK license plate reader data and Ring doorbell camera footage, investigators were able to track the vehicle’s movements.
Police then contacted the registered owner’s family, who confirmed the SUV belonged to Tejeda and that he was out working for Uber at the time of the incident.
With assistance from Uber, detectives were able to identify a suspect. Surveillance was established at a residence in the Lilburn neighborhood where investigators believed the suspect was staying.
When the individual later exited the home and began walking, officers moved in and took the suspect into custody without incident.
The arrest involved officers from the Gwinnett County Police Department and the Lawrenceville Police Department.
Police identified the suspect as Christian Simmons, 15, of Lilburn.
Investigators said Simmons had friends in the neighborhood where the Uber ride was requested but had no known prior connection to Tejeda.
Authorities believe the motive for the killing was vehicle theft, stating that the suspect allegedly targeted Tejeda solely to take the SUV.
“This was a senseless act of violence,” police said during a news conference.
Tejeda’s death has left his family mourning the loss of a devoted husband and father, while the case has sparked outrage across the community.
The investigation remains ongoing.
CLEVELAND, Ohio — Authorities in Cleveland are seeking the public’s assistance after the bodies of two unidentified young Black girls were discovered inside separate suitcases buried in shallow graves Monday evening in a residential area on the city’s East Side.
The victims are believed to be between the ages of approximately 8 and 14, according to police.
As of Tuesday, investigators said there were no active missing persons reports in Cleveland that match the descriptions of the children, and their identities remain unknown.
The cause and manner of death have not yet been determined.
The discovery was made shortly after 7:00 p.m. near East 162nd Street and Midland Avenue, in a field adjacent to Ginn Academy.
A man walking his dog in the area told authorities that his dog began pulling toward a fence line near a playground. When he investigated, he noticed a suitcase that appeared to be partially buried in the ground.
The man told police he unzipped the suitcase and observed what appeared to be a child’s head inside before immediately contacting authorities.
Officers from the Cleveland Division of Police responded to the scene and confirmed the presence of a shallow grave containing a deceased child inside the suitcase. As detectives and crime scene investigators canvassed the surrounding area, they located a second shallow grave nearby. A second suitcase was recovered, also containing the body of a young girl.
During a news conference, Cleveland Police Chief Dorothy Todd described the incident as “a terrible, horrific situation” and acknowledged the profound emotional impact on responding officers and the community.
“This is a traumatic event for our officers and for the community,” Todd said. “This is such a tragic incident, and we are working diligently to develop any leads we can. That’s why we are asking for the community’s help.”
Investigators have not yet determined how long the girls had been buried at the location. Chief Todd emphasized that authorities believe the deaths did not occur recently, though the exact timeline remains under investigation.
“We know that this didn’t just happen,” she said. “We still have to determine exactly when this occurred. At this time, we do not have any indication that this presents a clear, ongoing threat to public safety.”
The bodies have been transported to the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner’s Office, where autopsies will be conducted to establish the cause and manner of death, as well as to assist in identifying the victims.
Police confirmed that the bodies had not been dismembered.
Authorities are urging anyone with information about the case, including possible sightings of suspicious activity in the area or knowledge of missing children who may not have been formally reported, to contact the Cleveland Division of Police or Crime Stoppers.
The investigation remains active and ongoing.