Man who ordered a late-night dinner is shot and killed. An Uber Eats driver is charged

Police say an Atlanta Uber Eats food delivery driver accused of fatally shooting a customer is in custody.

Local media report 36-year-old Robert Bivines turned himself in Monday. Atlanta police said in a statement they had a warrant charging Bivines with felony murder. The victim was identified as 30-year-old Ryan Thornton.

Police said Thornton ordered delivery from late Saturday and went outside his Buckhead apartment complex for his food. Investigators say witnesses told them Thornton and the driver exchanged words before the shooting.

Bivines’ attorney, Jackie Patterson, told WSB-TV his client “had no choice but to defend himself” when the man became irate and aggressive over his order.

The Atlanta-Journal-Constitution cited an Uber Eats statement as saying Bivines passed a background check and had worked only days with the company.

Officers responded to the scene about 11:30 p.m. Saturday as the victim was being rushed to a nearby hospital in critical condition. Police said he had multiple gunshot wounds.

Witnesses told police that when the delivery arrived, the victim met the driver and received his order; as he walked away, “words may have been exchanged” between the two, police said in a statement.

Police said shots were fired from the delivery vehicle, a white Volkswagen, striking Thornton. The driver then drove away, police said.

An Uber spokesperson said that the company is cooperating with investigators. “We are shocked and saddened by this news,” the spokesperson said in a statement. “We are working with the Atlanta Police Department, and our hearts go out to the families of those involved.”

This story was originally published February 19, 2018 at 11:41 AM with the headline "Man who ordered a late-night dinner is shot and killed. An Uber Eats driver is charged."