A tragic incident unfolded as a Kentucky woman is now facing murder charges after allegedly shooting and killing an Uber driver, whom she mistakenly believed was taking her to Mexico. Phoebe D Copas, a 48-year-old resident of Tompkinsville, Kentucky, was en route to a casino in El Paso, Texas when she became convinced that the Uber driver, Daniel Piedra Garcia, aged 52, intended to kidnap her, according to the police.
The situation escalated when Copas spotted a road sign indicating the direction to Juarez, a town in Mexico. In response, she fired a gunshot at the back of the Uber driver’s head, causing the vehicle to veer off the road and collide with a highway barrier.
However, authorities in El Paso later clarified that Copas was not approaching any border crossing and was not in any imminent danger at the time of the incident. A statement from the police revealed, “The investigation does not support that a kidnapping took place or that Piedra was veering from Copas’ destination.”
Originally, Copas was charged with aggravated assault causing serious bodily injury. However, following the driver being taken off life support, her charges were changed to murder.
Family and friends of the victim have expressed their grief and shared tributes for Daniel Piedra Garcia. His niece, Didi Lopez, described him as a “hardworking man” who was “never in a bad mood” during an interview with a local media outlet. Lopez also suggested that stereotypes about Mexico and misconceptions related to the border situation might have played a role in the tragic incident. She stated, “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… I miss him, and I wish this wouldn’t have happened to him.”
In memory of Daniel, his family has set up a GoFundMe campaign to raise funds for hospital and funeral expenses, as well as any other challenges they may face. The original fundraising goal of $30,000 has already been exceeded, demonstrating the support and sympathy extended by the community.
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According to an affidavit, Copas did not contact emergency services immediately after the incident. Instead, she sent a photograph of the injured driver to her boyfriend, who subsequently arrived at the scene.
