Afghan Navy veteran, 38, is shot dead by his two Uber passengers in California’s 7/11 parking lot as cops hunt father-of-two’s car-theft killers — while his wife says she’s “in a nightmare.”
- Aaron Orozco, 38, was murdered by his Uber passengers on Friday night
- Orozco served three tours with the Marines in Iraq and Afghanistan
- He left a wife and two young children whom he supported with the car
A United States Marines veteran was shot in the parking lot of a California 7-Eleven by two Uber passengers he was driving.
Aaron Orozco, 38, died Friday night after being shot in the torso around 1:30 a.m., just outside Los Angeles. His body was wheeled into the parking lot while one of the suspects fled on foot and the other stole and drove away in his Honda Pilot.
Orozco was halfway through his trip when he pulled into the supermarket parking lot and the shooting occurred. A shop assistant saw the altercation and called the police.
A veteran of three tours in Afghanistan and Iraq, Orozco is survived by a wife and two young children, and his wife, Sandra, said he started Uber driving at night so he could look after their children while she worked as a nurse. Sandra told FOX 11 that it feels like she’s been living in a “nightmare” since Orozco’s death.
The police are still looking for the suspects. A GoFundMe set up to support his family has raised more than $36,000 so far.
Orozco served three tours with the Marines in Iraq and Afghanistan
He left a wife and two young children whom he supported with the car
Orozco has been driving Ubers for four years without a problem, his family said.
What exactly led to the altercation that led to Orozco’s death on Friday night remains unclear. Police said he and the passengers “got into a physical altercation” at some point during the stop at the 7-Eleven.
His car was later found abandoned and only two black men were identified.
Sandra said she hasn’t told her children about her father’s death yet.
“I haven’t even told my kids yet, they still think daddy will come through the door,” she told FOX 11.
“We’ve been married 10 years but we’ve been together since high school, high school sweethearts.”
“It feels like I’m in a nightmare. It doesn’t feel real to me,’ she added.
Uber officials said they were working closely with police in their investigation and stopped the suspect from using the ridesharing service.
“Our hearts go out to Mr. Orozco Figueroa’s family as they cope with this unfathomable tragedy and we have reached out to offer our condolences,” they said in a statement to FOX 11. “We have suspended the driver’s account and are working with the police to continue their investigation.’
The company said Orozco’s family is entitled to survivor benefits, which they provide through an affiliated insurance company.
The 7/11 parking lot where the shooting took place
The father is pictured here with one of his children in the image used by the family on the GoFundMe page
Police at the scene of the fatal car theft
His car was later found abandoned and only two black men were identified
Orozco has been driving Ubers for four years without a problem, his family said