In the pre-dawn hours of New Year's Day, 58-year-old Cesar Tejada was working as an Uber driver in Lawrenceville, Georgia, providing for his family, when his life was tragically cut short. Originally from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, Tejada was a beloved husband of 22 years to his wife, Evelyn, and a devoted father to their two sons, Anthony and Cesar. He was known for his love of music and nature, particularly his orchids, and for his unwavering dedication to his family.
On January 1, 2026, at approximately 4:13 a.m., Tejada picked up a passenger, 15-year-old Christian Simmons. After being driven to his destination on Groveland Parkway, Simmons allegedly exited the vehicle, shot Tejada, and left him in the roadway before stealing his SUV. A resident discovered Tejada's body lying in the street around 5:20 a.m. and alerted the authorities. Investigators found that he had sustained at least one gunshot wound.
Utilizing Ring camera footage and FLOCK camera technology, in cooperation with Uber, law enforcement was able to track Tejada's stolen vehicle. The SUV was located in Lilburn, where Simmons was later taken into custody. Christian Simmons has been charged as an adult with murder in connection with the death of Cesar Tejada. The motive for the shooting is believed to have been a carjacking. A GoFundMe campaign was established by Tejada's wife to help support their family in the wake of this senseless tragedy.
