Florida Man Shoots Uber Eats Driver in the Ass for Asking for His Girlfriend’s Number, Police Say

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA — What began as an ordinary Uber Eats delivery at a luxury apartment complex in Southwest Miami-Dade allegedly escalated into a violent confrontation that left a delivery driver hospitalized with a gunshot wound and a 33 year old man facing an attempted felony murder charge. According to reports by WPLG Local 10 and WSVN 7News, the violence erupted after the driver returned to the apartment building to ask a female customer for her phone number, prompting her boyfriend to allegedly confront him with a firearm, threaten his life, shoot him in the buttocks, and strike him in the head with a handgun.

The suspect, identified in local reporting as Khuslen Saruultuya, was subsequently arrested and ordered held without bond. What initially appeared to be an isolated confrontation over a romantic advance developed into a broader criminal investigation after authorities reportedly discovered suspected trafficking quantities of illegal drugs and more than $11,000 in cash inside his apartment. Saruultuya now faces serious charges across two separate criminal cases, including attempted felony murder and multiple narcotics trafficking offenses.

A Food Delivery Turns Into a Violent Confrontation

According to investigators, the incident began when an Uber Eats driver delivered food to a woman at the Pearl Dadeland Apartments in Southwest Miami-Dade. The delivery was apparently completed without incident, but the driver reportedly developed an attraction to the customer and decided to return to the apartment complex shortly afterward to ask for her telephone number. That decision allegedly brought him into direct conflict with the woman’s boyfriend, Saruultuya, who authorities say became enraged when he discovered that the driver had returned to pursue a personal interaction with his girlfriend.

According to the arrest report described by WSVN 7 News, Saruultuya allegedly arrived in a gray Chevrolet Corvette and confronted the delivery driver while armed with a handgun. Investigators say he threatened to kill the driver and chased him around his vehicle while pointing the firearm at him. During the confrontation, Saruultuya allegedly fired a shot that grazed the driver’s right buttock before striking him in the head with the handgun, leaving an approximately two inch injury. The woman reportedly attempted to intervene, pleading with her boyfriend to stop the attack.

The allegations describe a disturbing escalation from an apparently unwanted romantic advance to a potentially deadly armed assault. Although returning to a customer’s residence for personal reasons falls outside the normal responsibilities of a delivery driver, such conduct would not justify threats, physical violence, or the use of a firearm. The publicly available reporting does not establish that the driver was armed or had threatened anyone before the confrontation.

Wounded Driver Manages to Drive Himself to the Hospital

Despite suffering a gunshot wound and an alleged blow to the head, the Uber Eats driver reportedly managed to escape the confrontation and drive himself to a hospital. Medical personnel treated him for his injuries, and authorities indicated that he was expected to survive. His name has not been publicly disclosed in the reporting reviewed for this article, and additional details about his recovery or whether he will require further medical treatment were not immediately available.

Although the gunshot reportedly grazed the victim’s buttock, the circumstances could have resulted in substantially more serious injuries. Gunfire directed at another person carries the potential for fatal consequences regardless of where the bullet ultimately strikes, while blows to the head with a handgun can cause significant trauma. The fact that the driver was able to escape and seek medical attention does not diminish the seriousness of the alleged attack.

The incident also highlights the unpredictable circumstances delivery workers can encounter when interacting with customers at residential properties. While the driver’s decision to return was a personal choice rather than part of an assigned delivery, the encounter originated through a commercial transaction that brought two strangers into contact. The subsequent violence, as described by investigators, was allegedly initiated by a third party who objected to that interaction.

Suspect and Girlfriend Allegedly Leave Before Police Arrive

Following the shooting, investigators say Saruultuya and the woman left the scene before responding officers arrived. Authorities subsequently worked to identify and locate the suspect, eventually tracking him to his apartment and placing him under arrest. The available reporting does not fully explain which investigative methods led officers to Saruultuya or whether surveillance footage, witness statements, or other evidence played a decisive role in identifying him.

The woman’s reported attempt to stop the confrontation is an important distinction in the case. Although she allegedly left the scene with Saruultuya, the information reviewed does not establish that she participated in the shooting, encouraged the attack, or knowingly assisted in any criminal activity. No charges against her were identified in the available reports.

Investigators will likely examine the sequence of events surrounding the confrontation, including the suspect’s alleged threats, the driver’s movements, and any physical or video evidence recovered from the apartment complex. Those details could become important in determining whether prosecutors can establish the elements of the charges filed against Saruultuya.

Police Search Apartment and Discover Suspected Drug Trafficking Operation

The investigation reportedly expanded significantly when officers searched Saruultuya’s apartment following his arrest. According to WPLG Local 10 and WSVN 7News, authorities discovered substantial quantities of suspected controlled substances, including cocaine, MDMA, and amphetamines, along with more than $11,000 in cash. WSVN also reported that investigators recovered ketamine, marijuana, psilocybin mushrooms, and various prescription pills, raising additional questions about the nature and scale of the suspected drug activity.

Investigators reportedly found a room that appeared to be used for mixing, portioning, labeling, and packaging narcotics. Authorities said approximately $11,394 in cash was recovered during the search. The combination of multiple suspected controlled substances, packaging activity, and substantial cash holdings led to additional criminal charges involving alleged drug trafficking, transforming what began as an investigation into a shooting into a separate inquiry involving suspected narcotics distribution.

The discovery may suggest a more extensive alleged drug operation than simple personal possession, although the presence of cash and suspected narcotics does not independently establish that Saruultuya operated a trafficking organization. Prosecutors must prove the identity and quantity of the substances, establish the elements of the applicable offenses, and demonstrate that the evidence was obtained lawfully. The exact quantities of the individual drugs and the full inventory of seized materials have not been independently verified for this article.

Florida law imposes severe penalties for drug trafficking offenses, with certain controlled substances carrying mandatory minimum prison sentences based on their type and weight. Because the specific quantities and charging documents have not been independently examined, the precise sentencing exposure associated with each narcotics allegation remains unclear. Nevertheless, the reported discoveries have substantially increased the seriousness of the criminal proceedings against the defendant.

Attempted Felony Murder and Multiple Drug Trafficking Charges

Saruultuya appeared before a Miami-Dade County judge facing charges arising from the shooting and the subsequent drug investigation. According to Local 10, the most serious allegation is attempted felony murder, a first-degree felony under Florida law that can carry a potential sentence of up to life imprisonment under applicable statutory provisions. He also faces separate charges involving alleged trafficking in amphetamines or MDMA and cocaine.

Florida’s attempted felony murder statute addresses an intentional act that could cause death when committed during the perpetration or attempted perpetration of certain qualifying felonies. Unlike an ordinary attempted murder charge, the offense has distinct legal elements involving the relationship between the alleged act and an underlying felony. Prosecutors would need to establish those elements through admissible evidence, and the publicly available reporting does not provide enough detail to independently evaluate the precise legal theory supporting the charge.

During his initial court appearance, Saruultuya was reportedly ordered held without bond. That decision determines his custody status at the current stage of the proceedings and does not constitute a finding of guilt. The defendant remains presumed innocent unless and until the prosecution proves its allegations beyond a reasonable doubt or he enters a guilty plea.

Uber Eats Responds to Shooting of Delivery Driver

Following the incident, WPLG Local 10 contacted Uber Eats for comment concerning the shooting involving one of its delivery drivers. The company acknowledged the seriousness of the reported violence and said it was continuing to examine the circumstances while cooperating with law enforcement.

“We are continuing to investigate what has been reported. It is concerning and we will continue to cooperate with police,” Uber Eats said in a statement provided to Local 10.

The company did not specify whether it had taken action involving the customer account associated with the original delivery or whether additional safety measures were being considered. There is no indication in the available reporting that Uber Eats knew the driver intended to return to the apartment for personal reasons or that the company played any role in the subsequent confrontation.

The incident nevertheless illustrates the risks associated with work that requires drivers to interact with unfamiliar people at private residences. Delivery platforms generally facilitate the commercial transaction, but drivers can encounter circumstances beyond the company’s immediate control. In this case, investigators allege that a routine customer interaction ultimately placed the driver in the path of a violent confrontation involving someone other than the person who ordered the food.

An Alleged Act of Jealousy Leads to Two Serious Criminal Investigations

What makes this case particularly striking is the extraordinary escalation described by investigators. A delivery driver allegedly returned to an apartment building to ask a woman for her telephone number, only to encounter an armed boyfriend who reportedly threatened to kill him, fired a gun, and struck him in the head. The driver survived and managed to seek medical attention, but the confrontation could have produced a far more tragic outcome.

The subsequent discovery of suspected drug trafficking activity has added another dimension to the investigation. Authorities are now pursuing allegations involving both a violent armed encounter and the possession of substantial quantities of controlled substances, with the two criminal cases potentially exposing the defendant to severe penalties if he is convicted.

For prosecutors, the immediate task will be establishing precisely what occurred during the confrontation and whether the evidence supports the attempted felony murder charge. The separate narcotics case will require proof concerning the substances recovered, their quantities, and the circumstances of the apartment search. For the injured driver, the incident represents an encounter that reportedly began with an attempt at a personal connection and ended with gunfire, physical injuries, and a hospital visit.

Saruultuya remains entitled to the presumption of innocence, and the allegations against him must be tested through the criminal justice system. The case serves as a stark example of how an everyday disagreement can escalate into serious violence when someone allegedly responds to a perceived romantic slight with a firearm.

Sources and Further Reading

• WPLG Local 10 — October 13, 2026: Man Shoots Uber Eats Driver in Buttocks for Trying to Get Girlfriend’s Number, Cops Say
• WSVN 7News — October 13, 2026: Uber Eats Driver Shot by Woman’s Boyfriend After Returning to See Her, Deputies Say
• WPLG Local 10 — Original Video Report: Watch the Full News Report
• Florida Legislature — Section 782.051: Attempted Felony Murder Statute
• Florida Legislature — Section 893.135: Florida Drug Trafficking Laws and Penalties