“Seattle Teen Accused of Point-Blank Shooting, Joyride After Killing Uber Driver”

Seattle police have arrested an 18-year-old suspect, Neiana Allen-Bailey, for allegedly shooting an Uber driver and stealing his car. The victim, Amare Geda, was found dead in Seattle’s SODO neighborhood. This is the second incident of a rideshare driver being killed on the job in Seattle in the past year. The city has seen a rise in crime, with homicides increasing by 24% last year. Allen-Bailey claimed self-defense, but surveillance footage contradicted her story. Geda’s family has received support through a GoFundMe campaign, raising over $70,000. Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell is working on solutions to improve rideshare driver safety. WFIN Local News – News, Sports and Weather reported

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A teenager from Seattle has been accused of fatally shooting an Uber driver at close range and then stealing his car to visit family, get her hair done, and smoke marijuana on the beach. The victim, Amare Geda, a 52-year-old father of two, was found dead in Seattle’s SODO neighborhood in the early hours of August 8th. The suspect, 18-year-old Neiana Allen-Bailey, was arrested on August 10th and charged with homicide. This incident marks the second time in the past year that a rideshare driver has been killed in Seattle. The city’s rising crime rates have led to concerns among residents, with Seattle experiencing a 24% increase in homicides and a 4% spike in overall crime last year.

Following Geda’s killing, Allen-Bailey was apprehended after the stolen car, a 2014 Toyota Prius, was located by the police. Initially, she claimed to have purchased the vehicle through the “Offer Up” app, but later changed her story, alleging that she shot Geda in self-defense after a physical altercation. However, surveillance footage disproved her account, showing Geda standing outside his car for only seven seconds before being shot. Allen-Bailey confessed to throwing Geda’s belongings out of the car window and described a two-and-a-half-day joyride, during which she visited family, smoked marijuana, got her hair done, and refueled the car.

Although Allen-Bailey failed to appear at her court hearing, Geda’s family attended in large numbers. The accused killer also admitted to an unrelated robbery committed the previous month. Formal charges are expected to be filed in court next week. Geda, an Ethiopian immigrant, was one of the first Uber drivers in Seattle and had worked tirelessly for 14 years to support his family, holding two jobs and driving throughout the night. His wife is reportedly critically ill, exacerbating the devastation caused by her husband’s tragic death.

A GoFundMe campaign has been set up to support Geda’s family, raising over $70,000. The campaign emphasizes that Geda was the rock of his family and fell victim to a senseless crime while trying to provide for them. Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell expressed his condolences and stated that his office is providing assistance to the grieving family. The mayor’s office is also collaborating with the city council and the rideshare community to develop strategies for enhancing safety..