ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — A Colorado man is in the hospital after he was shot during a dispute with his ride-share driver in Orange County.
The shooting happened around 12:45 a.m. on Monday on John Young Parkway near State Road 528 after the driver told deputies the male passenger hit his girlfriend.
According to the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, during the ride, the male passenger sitting in the back seat hit his girlfriend, who was sitting in the front seat, and then hit the driver in her head.
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The driver pulled over and ordered the male passenger, identified as 27-year-old Daniel Pacheco, out of the car.
Deputies said the driver got out of the car and informed Pacheco that she had a gun.
The driver and Pacheco argued and according to deputies, the driver said Pacheco charged at her. Fearing that he was going to strike her again, she shot him.
Pacheco was transported to the hospital and remains in stable condition. He is charged with domestic violence battery.
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The driver told deputies that she was in fear for her safety and was not arrested. Deputies will send the case to the state attorney’s office to determine if she should face any charges.
Deputies are not releasing the name of the driver or the girlfriend, as they are both victims of a crime.
Deputies haven’t said what ride-sharing company the driver worked for, and Channel 9 found major ride-sharing companies don’t allow firearms by drivers or passengers.
Karim Mahmoud has only been driving ride-shares for a couple of months, and told Channel 9 that he has felt fear before, but word of a shooting is still shocking.
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“But it’s like absolutely something awful. It’s like escalating to that point, someone shooting a passenger because of his behavior,” Mahmoud said.
Another driver Channel 9 spoke with said she only drives during the day because she fears for her safety.
“Very concerning because these days, you have no safety outside. I will not take chances to drive at night,” said ride-share driver Ana Del Zoppo. “When I have a bad feeling, I just ask my passenger to get out of my car because it’s my car.”
Channel 9 has asked the sheriff’s office if the driver has a concealed weapons permit, but we have not received a reply.
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