An Atlanta police officer has been arrested and charged with murder after allegedly shooting and killing his Lyft driver early Wednesday morning.
Reginald Folks, 35, was fatally shot by Koby Minor, an officer who had been with the Atlanta Police Department for nearly six years, according to an APD press release.
The incident occurred around 12:30 a.m. on South Fulton Parkway near Stonewall Tell Road in Union City, Georgia. According to arrest warrant documents obtained by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Minor claimed that after ordering a Lyft ride home from another officer’s residence, he became suspicious of Folks, who was speaking on the phone in a language Minor did not understand.
Minor alleged that he asked Folks to pull over so he could exit the vehicle, but Folks did not stop. At a red light, Minor tried to leave the car but was unable to unlock the door. Minor then claimed that Folks turned around and reached toward the back seat, prompting Minor to draw his firearm and shoot Folks three times.
After the shooting, Minor broke the car window to escape the vehicle. He was later picked up by another driver, a woman who saw him waving for help. This witness reported that Minor said Folks “is in a gay fraternity and was trying to recruit Minor into it and [he] believed he was getting kidnapped.”
Folks was pronounced dead at the scene by responding officers. Minor was taken into custody and charged with murder and aggravated assault. He resigned from the police department on the day of his arrest and was placed on unpaid administrative leave due to a previous drug-related arrest on December 25. Minor is currently held at Fulton County Jail.
Folks’ family is devastated by the loss. His mother, Marchelle Folks, shared her grief in an interview with 11 Alive. “He was my oldest, 35. I just talked to him on Mother’s Day, and he had just talked to his brother for three hours,” she said. Describing her son, she added, “He was a friendly guy, very social. Reggie was pretty much the life of the party.”
Folks’ dreams and aspirations were cut short. Friends and family described him as a person who “dreamed of being a wrestler” and was well-liked by everyone he met. His death has left a void in the lives of those who knew him.
The Atlanta Police Department expressed condolences to Folks’ loved ones and assured full cooperation with the ongoing investigation. “Our hearts are with Mr. Folks’ loved ones as they confront this unspeakable tragedy, and we have reached out to offer our support during this difficult time,” said a Lyft spokesperson in a statement to PEOPLE. Lyft also announced that Minor’s account has been permanently banned from their platform.
The Union City Police Department is leading the investigation. In a press release, they emphasized the seriousness of the charges and the commitment to ensuring justice is served. “The investigation is ongoing, and we are working diligently to gather all the facts,” the statement read.
Minor, who joined the Atlanta Police Department in 2018, had previously faced legal issues. His unpaid administrative leave stemmed from an arrest on drug charges on Christmas Day last year. The department confirmed that his firearm had been confiscated and remains in APD custody.
This case has drawn significant attention and raised questions about the circumstances leading up to the fatal encounter. Minor’s account of the events, particularly his belief that Folks was attempting to kidnap him and recruit him into a “gay fraternity,” has been a focal point of the investigation.
Folks’ death marks a tragic episode in the ongoing challenges facing ride-share drivers and the safety concerns inherent in their line of work. As the investigation continues, authorities are urging anyone with additional information to come forward.
