PHOEBE COPAS (Courtesy of El Paso Police Department)
Staff Report
Glasgow News 1
Phoebe Copas, 48, of Tompkinsville, Ky., was recently arrested in El Paso, Texas, on an initial charge of aggravated assault causing serious bodily injury. She allegedly shot an Uber driver on Friday, June 16, in the Texas city that’s adjacent to the border with Mexico, according to a report from KTSM news in El Paso.
The television news station reported Thursday afternoon the charges have been upgraded to murder with a bond of $1.5 million.
According to court documents obtained by KTSM, Copas allegedly shot the Uber driver, Daniel Piedra Garcia, 52, when she mistakenly believed he was taking her to Mexico, instead of Speaking Rock Casino. She had planned to meet her boyfriend at the casino after he got off work. The court documents state that Copas reportedly did not call for police or emergency services to disclose her being in danger before allegedly shooting Piedra Garcia.
According to court documents, investigators learned that Copas was in El Paso visiting her boyfriend. Copas arranged and paid for an Uber driver to pick her up and drive her to the casino. While Copas was being transported to the casino, she observed traffic signs that stated “Juarez, Mexico” which led her to believe that Piedra Garcia was attempting to kidnap her and take her into Juarez, Mexico, KTSM reported.
Court documents state Copas then allegedly grabbed a “silver and brown handgun from her purse” and allegedly shot Piedra Garcia. The vehicle then collided with the roadway barriers before coming to a stop on U.S. 54 near Loop 375, KTSM reported. Officers then arrived on scene and saw Copas was being helped out of the vehicle by her boyfriend. Officers also saw Copas “drop everything she was holding in her hands on the
ground. Included with the items that fell to the ground, was a brown and silver handgun,” according to court documents.
Court documents add the location where the vehicle came to a stop was not near a bridge, port of entry, or other areas with immediate access to travel into Mexico.
Police say the investigation does not support a kidnapping took place or that Piedra Garcia was veering from Copas’ initial destination.
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