SHOCKING ARREST! Ex-cop Arrested After Fatal Shooting of Lyft Driver Amid Kidnapping Fear
An ex-Atlanta police officer was recently detained in connection with the shooting murder of his Lyft driver, whom he believed was attempting to kidnap him, according to several reports.
Officers from the Union City Police Department arrested Koby Minor last Wednesday, May 15, in connection with the death of Lyft driver Reginald Folks. According to WSB-TV, the minor faces charges of aggravated assault and homicide.
Union City police officers responded to a report of a shooting on Stonewall Tell Road shortly after midnight. According to 11 Alive, they discovered a man who died as a result of his injuries and discovered that the victim was a Lyft driver transporting Minor to his house. The driver was eventually identified as Folks.
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Minor had worked for the Atlanta Police Department since 2018, and he resigned immediately upon his latest arrest.
The officer was on leave for a separate arrest when the fatal shot occurred.
Minor was already on leave from a previous incident when the shooting occurred.
“At the time of his arrest in Union City, Minor was on unpaid administrative leave after being arrested in Milton, GA in December 2023,” according to Atlanta Police. “Minor was relieved of his department-issued firearm after being placed on unpaid administrative leave.” Since then, the handgun has remained in the possession of the APD.”
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WSB-TV said that he was reprimanded when cops discovered Xanax in his hands after he crashed his vehicle last year.
Officer told a witness that the Lyft driver was in a ‘gay fraternity’ and attempted to kidnap him: Reports
According to an arrest affidavit obtained by WSB-TV, people began talking on the phone in a different language during the ride. During that time, Minor told investigators he heard a voice. He did not divulge what the voice told him.
According to the report, Minor then requested that the rideshare driver stop so that he could exit the vehicle, but Folks did not comply. When they got to a red light, Minor tried to open the door but couldn’t since it was locked.
Minor claimed that when Folks attempted to reach into the rear seat, he fired fire and struck him several times, including in the head, according to the report. He quickly shattered the window and exited the vehicle.
Minor told authorities that he didn’t know if the driver was gay, but a witness stated the former officer thought the driver was “in a gay fraternity” and attempted to recruit and kidnap him.
USA TODAY has reached out to acquire the arrest affidavit but has yet to hear back.
Victim’s mother mourns his death, reports indicate.
Folks’ relatives stated that he moved to the city to attend Clark Atlanta University, an HBCU. He was driving Lyft for additional money but has lately begun a career as a competitive professional wrestler.
[I’m] quite proud of the man he’s become. Everywhere I went, people recognized and enjoyed him. “He always met people he knew,” Marchelle Folks told the newspaper. “He was a friendly, gregarious person. Reggie was very much the life of the party.”
“He was my oldest, 35,” she stated. “I just spoke with him on Mother’s Day, and he had just chatted to his brother for three hours… We feel heartbroken by the entire situation.”
Lyft responds to the fatal shooting of a driver, according to reports.
Lyft did not immediately answer to USA TODAY’s request for comment, but did tell CNN that company is cooperating with authorities on the current investigation.
“Our hearts are with Mr. Folks’ loved ones as they confront this unspeakable tragedy, and we have reached out to offer our support during this difficult time,” added the statement. “We stand ready to assist law enforcement with any investigation and have permanently banned the rider’s account from the Lyft community.”