A rideshare driver who runs his own service was rushed to a San Antonio hospital Wednesday night after a fare dispute on the city’s West Side ended with a gunshot, according to police. Officers and EMS were called shortly after 9 p.m. to the 2000 block of West Laurel near North Elmendorf Street, where they found the driver wounded in the shoulder. He is expected to recover, and detectives have opened an investigation.
San Antonio police told Fox San Antonio that the driver called 911 and reported the confrontation began on the East Side after he arrived for a pickup and challenged the rider about payment. Investigators say the passenger refused to pay, got out of the vehicle and fired toward the driver’s seat, hitting the driver in the back of the shoulder. The bullet passed through and exited, and the victim was transported to a local hospital with injuries described as non-life-threatening.
Fire and EMS crews treated the man at the scene before taking him for further medical care. First responders described the injury as an entry-and-exit wound through the shoulder. Investigators canvassed the block, collected evidence and asked neighbors to share any video or eyewitness accounts. As of last night, no arrests had been announced.
Rideshare Safety And Local Response
The shooting lands in the middle of a broader conversation about rideshare safety. National reporting has documented thousands of safety incidents involving ride-hailing platforms, including reports of sexual assault and other attacks, according to CNBC. Legal and shareholder pressure on the industry has already produced costly outcomes, including a $25 million shareholder settlement tied to allegations Lyft downplayed safety problems, as covered by Investing.com.
Locally, police are still trying to track down the gunman. Fox San Antonio reported that investigators are continuing the probe and have urged anyone with information to contact the San Antonio Police Department.
