Uber Driver Arrested for Threatening Passengers with a Gun in Florida

An Uber driver has been taken into custody and faces charges for aggravated assault with a firearm after being caught on video pointing a gun at two passengers during a ride in Hollywood, Florida. Jennifer Benítez, a 23-year-old, was arrested by Port St. Lucie police last Saturday following an arrest warrant issued for an incident on May 12. Authorities reported that she was extradited to Broward County and released on May 20 at 12:43 p.m., as noted in her official record from the St. Lucie County Sheriff's Department.

According to the police report and various local media, Benítez picked up two women in Miami after receiving a ride request to an apartment complex in Hollywood. From the beginning of the trip, the driver displayed hostile behavior, as reported by one of the passengers. As they approached the destination, one of the women suggested she make a left turn, which triggered an aggressive reaction from Benítez, who shouted, "I know, that's why I have GPS," and made a sharp maneuver with the car.

The situation quickly escalated. Benítez stopped the vehicle near the Tri-Rail station on 2900 Sheridan Street, canceled the ride via the app, and demanded the passengers exit the car. When one of them tried to explain that her friend was putting on her shoes, the driver responded by pulling out a firearm from the center console and pointing it directly at them.

One of the victims recorded part of the altercation on her cellphone. In the video circulating on social media, Benítez can be seen pointing the gun while arguing and speaking on the phone with 911, a call that was abruptly cut off. "She had this weird look," one of the passengers is heard saying in the recording. Following the incident, both women exited the vehicle and alerted the authorities.

The Hollywood Police Department confirmed that their Violent Crimes Unit led the investigation and issued the arrest warrant after reviewing the evidence. The victim stated she felt extreme fear for her life during the confrontation.

Uber responded to the case with concern. "This is extremely troubling. We have removed the driver's access to the app and are continuing to investigate," a company spokesperson said in a statement to the media following the video's release.

Comparing with a Recent Incident

This episode occurs just days after the wife of a Cuban Uber driver in North Carolina reported an assault by a passenger after revealing he was Cuban. Osvaldo Rivera McIntosh was attacked on May 3 in Charlotte when an allegedly intoxicated customer attempted to strangle him with the car's seatbelt. The incident, captured by the car's camera, is under investigation as a potential hate crime, although no arrests have been made so far.

Both cases highlight the tense and vulnerable environment faced by drivers and passengers within the app-based transportation system in the United States, reigniting the debate over safety on these platforms.