NEW YORK, NY – A routine Uber ride on Manhattan’s Upper East Side turned into a nightmare Wednesday night when a passenger allegedly pepper-sprayed the driver in an unprovoked attack. The incident, which was captured on the vehicle’s dashcam, has raised concerns about potential racial motivations behind the assault.
The journey began around 11:30 p.m. with Shoaib Mahmood, the Uber driver, conversing on the phone while his passengers, Jennifer Guilbeau and a companion, sat quietly in the backseat. However, the calm was abruptly disrupted when, just a minute and a half into the ride, Guilbeau allegedly pepper-sprayed Mahmood without warning.
Mahmood, still reeling from the incident, described his immediate fear of being hijacked. Despite the traumatic event, he returned to work by Friday, demonstrating resilience and a commitment to his job. “People shouldn’t be treated this way,” he emphasized, calling for greater respect and understanding.
Following the attack, NYPD officers arrested Guilbeau at the scene and charged her with assault. Although the authorities have not classified the incident as a hate crime, Mahmood, a Bangladeshi father of three, is convinced that his race played a role in the attack. “I believe it happened because of my skin color,” he said, a belief that resonates with many in the community.
The Taxi Workers Alliance has demanded that the district attorney prosecute the case with the full weight of anti-hate crime and taxi driver protection laws. The union condemned the attack as “racist and violent,” calling for justice for Mahmood.
In response to the incident, Uber has banned Guilbeau from using its services, denouncing her actions as “unacceptable” and affirming its zero-tolerance policy towards violence. When contacted, Guilbeau’s family denied any racial intent but did not provide further details. The district attorney’s office has confirmed that Guilbeau will face arraignment soon.