Uber driver shot dead by passenger in 7-Eleven parking lot, authorities say

An Uber driver was shot dead by one of his passengers in a 7-Eleven parking lot in Lynwood early Friday, authorities said.

The man, Orozco Figueroa, 38, had picked up two men and stopped at the store in the 2800 block of East Imperial Highway around 1:30 a.m., according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

At the 7-Eleven, the driver, believed to be in his late 30s, got into a fight with the men, according to the Sheriff’s Department.

During the altercation, one of the men took out a gun and shot the driver, authorities said. The two men then stole the car and fled the scene.

Police responded to the scene and found the man suffering from a gunshot wound to the upper torso. He died at the scene.

The car was found nearby and the two suspects have not been arrested, the Sheriff’s Department said.

“Our hearts are with Mr. Orozco Figueroa’s family as they cope with this unfathomable tragedy, and we have reached out to offer our condolences. We banned the rider’s account and are working with police on their investigation,” said an Uber spokesperson in an emailed statement.

The family is eligible for survivor benefits, according to the ride-share app. Uber also said that they are in close contact with detectives working the case.

Figueroa was a married father of two, according to a GoFundMe set up for the family. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 2001 to 2005 and did three tours in Iraq, according to the fundraiser. He was known by the name Aaron Orozco, according to the GoFundMe.