On December 6, 2023, at approximately 10:30 p.m., 43-year-old Uber driver Mohamadou Thera was found unresponsive in the middle of P Avenue near Sherwood Drive in Plano, Texas. Responding officers discovered Thera with a gunshot wound to the head; he was transported to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Thera, a resident of Sherman, Texas, was a husband and father of four.
He had migrated to the United States seeking a better life and was working as a rideshare driver to support his family.
The investigation led police to arrest 21-year-old Plano resident Jaheim Kemp on December 7, 2023. According to court records, Thera had picked up Kemp as a passenger around 10 p.m. on the night of the incident. Uber records indicate that the ride was canceled shortly after it was confirmed. Approximately 30 minutes later, Thera was found unresponsive in the road. Kemp had used his full name as a customer on the Uber app, which facilitated the investigation.
Detectives located Thera's stolen Honda Accord outside Kemp's residence, less than a mile from the crime scene. While surveilling the location, officers observed Kemp leaving in the vehicle and conducted a traffic stop, leading to his arrest. Kemp was found in possession of a handgun matching the shell casing found at the scene. He was charged with murder and had a prior criminal history, including a 2020 aggravated assault charge for which he served a year in prison.
Surveillance footage from a nearby elementary school showed two individuals walking in the direction of the crime scene around the time of the incident. Police believe one of these individuals was Kemp; the identity of the second person remains under investigation.
Thera's family and the local community have been left devastated by his tragic death. A GoFundMe campaign was organized to cover funeral expenses and support his family during this difficult time.
The Plano Police Department continues to investigate the case and has urged anyone with additional information to contact their Crimes Against Persons Tip Line at (972) 941-2148.
