San Diego Teen Arrested After Shooting At Uber Driver
Social media outlets have removed many of these built-in filters that could once defuse tense situations. The anonymity of the Internet compounds the problem because insults can be hurled at someone that a person does not know. These insults can be shared with thousands–or even millions–at the touch of a button.
A situation of this nature recently took place in the Mission Beach area of San Diego, where a 16-year-old boy was arrested on August 6 for allegedly shooting at an Uber driver as he drove away. According to a representative of the San Diego Police Department, an argument escalated between the boy and Uber driver over the boy’s negative social media posts regarding the driver. The boy apparently said something online that the Uber driver took exception to, and a physical confrontation ensued.
As the driver began to leave the scene, the boy opened fire at the car, shattering several windows. No injuries were reported, but the boy is in significant legal trouble. Potential criminal charges include section 246 of the California Penal Code, for discharging a firearm at a vehicle, and section 245(a)(2) for assault with a firearm.
Under California Penal Code § 246, a person who “maliciously and willfully discharges a firearm at an…occupied motor vehicle…is guilty of a felony.” If convicted, the alleged shooter could face a state prison term of three, five, or seven years.
The case could also be filed as a PC 664/187, attempted murder, with a premeditation allegation pursuing to PC 189, which could carry a life sentence. Even though the physical confrontation that led to the shooting took place IRL (internet slang for “in real life”), it was rooted in a dispute from the online world.
If you have been on the receiving end of slanderous or offensive remarks online, the smartest thing to do is to walk away. If the dispute should linger, it is important to understand that online harassment and intimidation need not be endured. To learn more about your legal rights, without escalating the situation into an actual confrontation, contact the San Diego Law Office of Vikas Bajaj, APC today.
