An Uber Driver Shot and Killed His Passenger in Denver

A driver for the ride-sharing company Uber reportedly shot and killed his passenger on the side of a Denver interstate early Friday morning.

Police told ABC 7 Denver that the incident occurred at 2:45am Friday on Denver's Interstate 25. After getting into an altercation with his passenger during the ride, the driver reportedly pulled out a gun and shot the unidentified male passenger multiple times.

Emergency dispatchers say that the driver then called 911. Authorities administered CPR to the passenger on the scene, but he was later pronounced dead at a nearby hospital. Police are interviewing the driver at department headquarters.

The driver is confirmed to have had access to Uber's app for nearly three years. Uber has since revoked the driver's access to the ride-hailing platform. The fatal incident was associated with a ride on Uber's app.

Uber policy states that both drivers and passengers are prohibited from carrying firearms of any kind in a vehicle while using the ride-hailing app.

The incident, which is being investigated as a homicide, comes amid a recent push by Uber to make multiple safety improvements to its platform. The company has added a "panic button" feature to its app that lets a rider get directly in touch with 911 dispatchers and has also added the ability for passengers to let up to five trusted contacts track the ride's live location. Additionally, Uber announced in April that its drivers would undergo annual background checks and added a company to monitor driver records against an updated criminal arrest database.

"We are all deeply troubled by the events in Denver today," an Uber spokesperson told TPG. "Our thoughts are with the families of those involved, and we will continue working closely with police."

*This post has been updated with Uber's statement to TPG and additional reporting.