A Georgia Uber driver is facing serious criminal charges after allegedly shooting a 16-year-old girl during a late-night confrontation outside a Waffle House in Dunwoody.
Police say the altercation started over a dispute about the number of passengers allowed in his vehicle — and ended with a gunshot that left the teen fighting for her life.
The shooting happened just after 2:30 a.m. Sunday, when officers were called to a Waffle House on Ashford Dunwoody Road. According to Dunwoody Police, five teenage girls had ordered an Uber to take them home after eating at the restaurant.
The driver, identified as 38-year-old Meredith Grundy, told the group he could only take four passengers because his car didn’t have enough seatbelts.
That simple refusal quickly spiraled out of control.
Investigators say an argument broke out over who would cancel the ride. According to Grundy, one of the teens became aggressive, allegedly threatening to kill him and punching him in the face while he sat inside the car. Police say Grundy then pulled out a firearm and opened fire, hitting the 16-year-old girl who had allegedly assaulted him.
“The driver reported that he acted out of fear after being attacked,” a Dunwoody Police spokesperson told reporters Tuesday. “However, our investigation is ongoing and no final determination has been made regarding self-defense.”
The victim’s friends told police that no such assault or threat occurred, contradicting Grundy’s version of events.
Paramedics rushed the girl to a local hospital, where she remains in critical but stable condition, according to officials. Her name has not been released because she is a minor.
Witnesses described the scene as chaotic. “We just heard yelling and then a gunshot,” said one diner who was inside the restaurant. “Everyone ducked under the tables.”
Grundy was arrested at the scene and later booked into the DeKalb County Jail on charges of aggravated assault and possession of a firearm during a felony. Jail records show he has since been released on bond.
Police say the case remains under active investigation. “We’re still reviewing surveillance footage and speaking with witnesses,” the Dunwoody Police Department said in a statement. “Our priority is to determine exactly what happened and whether the use of force was justified.”
In a statement to local affiliate WSB-TV, Uber said Grundy’s account access has been permanently deactivated. “The reported incident is deeply troubling, and our thoughts are with the young woman and her family,” the company said. “We are cooperating fully with law enforcement.”
The shooting comes amid growing national concern about violence involving rideshare drivers and passengers. According to Uber’s own safety reports, thousands of assault-related incidents are reported annually — raising questions about how well companies protect both drivers and riders.
“This tragic case underscores the tension drivers face when safety protocols collide with unpredictable passenger behavior,” said rideshare industry analyst Mark Lytton. “But pulling a trigger should never be the answer.”
Authorities have not announced when Grundy will next appear in court.
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When I drove for Uber, I was not allowed to have a gun in the car. That was, I was told, grounds for immediate dismissal.