Uber driver who was killed by passenger was a war veteran and father of 2

A veteran of the Iraq war and father of two children was fatally shot in a 7-Eleven parking lot in Lywood early Friday while working as an Uber driver, authorities said.

Aaron Orozco Figueroa, 38, had picked up two men and stopped at the store in the 2800 block of East Imperial Highway around 1:30 a.m., according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

Orozco got into an altercation with his passengers and was shot in the upper body at the 7-Eleven, authorities said. The two then stole the car and drove off.

Figueroa died at the scene.

The car was found nearby, and the two men remained at large, the Sheriff’s Department said.

“Our hearts are with Mr. Orozco Figueroa’s family as they cope with this unfathomable tragedy, and we have reached out to offer our condolences. We banned the rider’s account and are working with police on their investigation,” said an Uber spokesperson in an emailed statement.

The family is eligible for survivor benefits, according to the ride-hailing app. Uber also said it is in close contact with detectives working the case.

Orozco was a married father of a 9-year-old son and a 3-year-old daughter, according to a GoFundMe set up for the family.

He served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 2001 to 2005 and did three tours in Iraq, according to the fundraiser.

Times staff writer Taryn Luna contributed to this report.