Upon first glance at an “Uber driver pull out gun” headline, your initial reaction was likely oh no not another Uber assault. But this story is a bit different from the recent barrage of “Uber Driver assaults passenger” headlines. This shooting, at least according to prosecutors, was justified.
NBC Chicago reports that a 22-year-old Chicago man is in the hospital under police custody after he was shot in the knee and lower back by a shotgun-wielding Uber driver.
According to state attorneys, the Uber driver “was acting in self-defense and in the defense of others.”
The 47-year-old Uber driver says he dropped off a fare and moments later saw a man firing a handgun in his direction, into a crowd of people. He says he pulled out his shotgun, for which he has a concealed carry permit, and fired six shots. At least two of the shots connected, and police found the gunman bleeding on the sidewalk. He was the only person injured at the scene.
It is not against Uber rules to store a firearm in one’s car – as long as it complies with all applicable laws.
Uber has not placed the driver on any sort of temporary suspension.
While Uber’s not going to throw this guy a hero’s parade, it’s not a black eye for the on-demand car company. It’s had plenty of those as of late.
On the same day the news broke of the Chicago Uber driver possibly saving the day, an Uber driver in San Francisco was arrested for allegedly running over a cyclist.
Image via Uber, Facebook
