AVENTURA, Fla. – A man who was fatally shot Sunday morning by an Uber driver during an attempted robbery committed a second robbery shortly before he was killed, Aventura police said Monday at a news conference.
The accused robber was identified by police as Kevin Johnson, 24.
Police said Johnson robbed someone in Broward County about an hour before trying to rob the Uber driver, identified as Namique Anderson, 29.
According to police, Anderson was taking a passenger to Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport shortly before 6 a.m. when he was cut off by a gray Dodge Caravan in the 3300 block of Northeast 191st Street.
Police said Johnson, who was armed, got out of the driver's side of the minivan and approached Anderson, demanding his personal items.
Anderson, who is licensed to carry a firearm, fired four shots at Johnson, police said.
Police said a passenger in the minivan got into the driver's seat and fled the scene before police arrived.
During Monday's news conference, police said they have identified the person of interest who was possibly involved in both incidents and recovered the minivan in Broward County.
Police said the shooting remains under investigation with the Miami-Dade County state attorney's office. However, police believe Anderson acted in self-defense and no charges are expected to be filed against him.
Johnson's grandfather, Wesley Phillips, told Local 10 News that his grandson wasn't "acting right the past couple of day" as if something was "weighing on his mind."
Uber released a statement saying that it prohibits both its customers and drivers from carrying firearms while using the app.
"Our goal is to ensure that everyone has a safe and reliable ride," the statement said.
Anyone with information about the suspect's passenger is asked to call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-TIPS.