The Texas Uber driver who was shot by a Kentucky woman who thought she was being kidnapped into Mexico was taken off life support and passed away.
The family of Daniel Piedra Garcia decided to take him off life support Wednesday afternoon.
Piedra Garcia was shot by his passenger, 48-year-old Phoebe Copas of Tompkinsville, Kentucky, on U.S. 54 near Loop 375 on Friday, police said.
Garcia was taken to University Medical Center.
“It was just shocking, hard to believe, a lot of us had seen the news but we never even imagined, it never crossed our mind that it was going to be him,” Didi Lopez, Piedra’s niece, said.
“He was really excited to be driving for Uber. He was already providing for his family; not only that he was meeting so many people,” Lopez said.
Copas told police she shot Piedra because she thought he was kidnapping her when she saw an exit sign for Juarez, Mexico, court documents stated.
Lopez believed that stereotypes about the border may have led to her uncle being shot.
“They make assumptions, they see stuff maybe on the news, maybe on social media, and stuff that’s not necessarily true and when they come here they come without really knowing,” Lopez said.
The family said he is a loving man who wanted to provide for those he loves and while he doesn’t have children of his own, he has many godchildren, who were devastated at the thought of losing him.
Court documents stated Copas didn’t call 911 right away. She reportedly took a photo of Piedra and sent it to her boyfriend who she called first before finally calling for help.
“For someone who was fearing for her life, you would think that the first thing you would do is call the authorities, but she took other actions,” Lopez said.
Lopez said neurologists told the family there is nothing more they can do to help Piedra.
Lopez said Uber contacted the family and offered their support and would provide for whatever they needed.
Copas is jailed on a $1 million bond and has a bond hearing on Friday.
She is charged with aggravated assault causing serious bodily injury, which is a second-degree felony.
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