A Lyft passenger in Georgia was shot multiple times in the early hours of Saturday morning when an individual in another car fired at their ride-sharing vehicle.
Officers from the Atlanta Police Department were called to the Shell gas station on Moreland Avenue in Atlanta, Georgia, at around 2:18 a.m. local time on Saturday morning after reports of a shooting, according to a preliminary press release by the authorities.
"Preliminary investigation indicates the victim and a friend were passengers in a Lyft vehicle when they heard gunshots that appeared to be discharged from another vehicle," the department said. "The victim realized he was struck by gunfire and requested EMS services."
The department confirmed in the release that a male victim was found conscious and alert at the scene suffering from multiple gunshot wounds.
The victim was transported to a local hospital for treatment, while no information on the driver or second passenger has yet been released.
The authorities said that the investigation into the shooting is continuing and confirmed that "investigators are working to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident," as no suspects have yet been identified.
A second ride-sharing vehicle was targeted in Atlanta over the weekend, as at around 12:29 a.m. on Monday, a male victim driving for Uber was held at gunpoint, as two suspects allegedly took his vehicle, according to a statement from the police.
The victim was attempting to pick up a customer when a man at the property told him that he did not order an Uber, the preliminary statement said.
"As the victim attempted to back out of the driveway, he was confronted by two male suspects, one with a handgun. The suspects demanded the victim to exit the vehicle. The victim complied and the suspects fled the scene in the victim's vehicle," the release added.
Saturday's shooting is the latest in a string of violent incidents in Atlanta in 2021, as at least 13 people have been killed and several more have been injured in road shootings in the city so far this year, according to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Since the beginning of the year, there've been over 827 guns stolen out of vehicles in the City of Atlanta. Irresponsible gun owners & criminals with guns make our city unsafe. Secure your weapon with a locking device/gun safe or remove guns from cars when unattended. #APDCares pic.twitter.com/j9ofp4htfL
— Atlanta Police Department (@Atlanta_Police) July 9, 2021
On Friday afternoon, just a few hours before Saturday's shooting, the police department revealed in a tweet that "since the beginning of the year, there've been over 827 guns stolen out of vehicles in the City of Atlanta."
The department urged residents of the city "to secure your weapon with a locking device/gun safe or remove guns from cars when unattended," as it said that "irresponsible gun owners & criminals with guns make our city unsafe."
Newsweek has contacted the Atlanta Police Department and Lyft for comment on the incident.
