Local rideshare drivers react to Thanksgiving shooting of Uber driver

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- Thanksgiving nighttime came to a convulsive extremity for 1 Uber driver.

Police said a 40-year-old antheral driving for the rideshare app picked up a rider a small aft 8 p.m. connected Thursday adjacent South Tupman Street successful southwest Fresno.

The operator and rider had a disagreement and that's erstwhile things took a convulsive turn.

RELATED: Uber operator hospitalized pursuing shooting successful Fresno, constabulary say

Police said the rider exited the conveyance and changeable astatine the operator aggregate times. With astatine slightest 1 slug striking the operator successful the head.

The 40-year-old drove a artifact distant and called the police.

"This is an isolated incident. This isn't similar a multitude onslaught connected rideshare. It's precise tragic that this happened erstwhile idiosyncratic was providing a work that benefits the assemblage successful general, particularly astir Thanksgiving and holidays," said Lt. Alfonso Castillo.

The quality of Thursday's onslaught has section rideshare drivers connected edge.

"I was virtually readying connected going retired to springiness rides yesterday, Thanksgiving night. And I conscionable thought, hey, I conscionable privation to walk clip with family," said Fresno Uber operator Vikaas Shanker.

Vikaas Shanker has been driving for Uber for astir 10 years.

He feels similar the rideshare app does a bully occupation protecting its drivers with exigency capabilities but hopes much is done.

"I deliberation the extortion tin possibly travel connected the extremity of making definite that the radical who are coming into my car are radical who are not going to harm me," said Shanker.

John Heffron could person utilized that other furniture of extortion successful February erstwhile helium was attacked by a passenger.

"He reaches from down maine and starts punching connected my caput and my face. And I'm trying to fend it off," said Heffron.

The rider exited Heffron's vehicle.

Heffron said helium called the constabulary and filed a study but inactive nary apprehension has been made.

Action News reached retired to Uber successful respect to Thursday's incidental and it responded with the pursuing statement:

"Our thoughts are with the operator arsenic helium recovers from this horrific incident. We removed the rider's entree to Uber and basal acceptable to enactment instrumentality enforcement with their investigation."

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