Chicago rideshare driver shot during attempted carjacking; advocates demand safety improvements

CHICAGO (CBS) -- A rideshare driver was in critical condition Thursday after he was shot last night during an attempted carjacking in the Austin community.

The incident has renewed calls to improve rideshare safety.

As of late Thursday afternoon, the 51-year-old Uber driver was in critical condition at Mount Sinai Hospital after being shot several times in the chest. Rideshare drivers said it was just the latest incident in a recent wave of violence against drivers.

"It's very clear that we're an easy target," said Lori Simmons an Uber and Lyft driver and organizer of Chicago Gig Alliance.

Simmons said her community of drivers is — yet again — rattled after the shooting Wednesday night in the 900 block of North LeClaire Avenue.

Just after 10 p.m., police said a 51-year-old man was dropping off a passenger in the 900 block of North LeClaire Avenue when three men approached. 

Police said the men took his phone and demanded he get out of his car. 

When the driver refused, the suspects shot him in the chest. He was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital.

At last check, the Uber driver was in critical condition with several gunshot wounds to the chest.

Other rideshare drivers said they are praying he pulls through, because they're still mourning the deaths of at least two other rideshare drivers who were shot and killed last month.

"These drivers are out there risking their lives basically for pennies, You know, in some cases, they're not even making a profit," said Simmons, "because the cost of running their vehicle is not as much as they're earning on their ride."

Simmons said this happened comes a week after a Lyft driver was shot and killed right in the same neighborhood, and underscored the safety improvements for which they have been fighting.

"At the very least, we could know who we're waiting for; who we're looking for - not have to sit there out in the street for a long time waiting for them," said Simmons, "and, you know, just have basic safety precautions in place for us."

Bryant Greening's law firm, LegalRideshare, specializes in rideshare cases and agrees that companies have not done enough to strengthen identity requirements for passengers.

"We're dealing with some of the most innovative companies in the world," Greening said.

He also thinks rideshare drivers should be offered basic safety training — before they hit the road.

"Perhaps self-defense classes, perhaps what to look out for in a situation; how to react if a passenger or community member is giving you problems," Greening said.

In a statement, an Uber spokesperson said: "This violent attack is sickening and our hearts are with the driver. We're in touch with law enforcement, and will continue to assist in their investigation in any way we can."

Uber told us they have made safety improvements for drivers - specifically including the option of "live help" from a safety agent - but drivers like Simmons say that is not enough.

"Criminals often see rideshare drivers as sitting ducks," said Greening.

This is why the Chicago Gig Alliance is working to pass the Rideshare Living Wage and Safety Ordinance.

"The mayor has told us that he's supportive," said Simmons. "This is one the ordinances - he ran his campaign on it."

The ordinance would address passenger ID requirements, pay concerns, and what drivers are calling "unfair deactivations."

"Drivers are so afraid that they're going to lose access to the app that they're willing to take rides that make them feel unsafe," Simmons said.

Simmons says the Chicago Gig Alliance has about 30 aldermen onboard with the ordinance, which should be up for a vote in the next month or two.

Meanwhile last week, Chicago police warned about a string of armed robberies targeting rideshare drivers in December in the North Austin and Galewood neighborhoods on the city's West Side, not far from the scene of the latest attempetd carjacking and shooting.

Police said a group of three to four armed robbers held up rideshare drivers at least seven times between Dec. 3 and Dec. 24 as the drivers were either dropping off or picking up passengers.

• 5900 block of West North Avenue on Dec. 3, 2023, at 5:35 a.m.
• 5200 block of West Hirsch Street on Dec. 6, 2023, at 3:45 a.m.
• 5400 block of West Le Moyne Street on Dec. 12, 2023, at 4:45 a.m.
• 5100 block of West North Avenue on Dec. 20, 2023, at 5:28 p.m.
• 5100 block of West Dickens Avenue on Dec. 20, 2023, at 3:25 a.m.
• 2000 block of North Leclaire Avenue on Dec. 23, 2023 at 3:25 a.m.
• 2000 block on North Lawler Avenue on Dec. 24, 2023 at 6:15 a.m.

In each case, a group of three to four robbers armed with handguns approached the victim's vehicle, and one of them opened the driver's side door and demanded their cell phone and wallet. Robbers also demanded the victims' passcodes for their phones, and in some of the robberies, hit the victim in the head with a gun.

Police had only vague descriptions of the robbers.