A Kentucky woman died while awaiting trial in the shooting death of an El Paso Uber driver on a highway near the U.S.-Mexico border, her former attorney said.
Phoebe Copas faced a murder charge in a trial set to start on April 28 in the killing of 52-year-old Daniel Piedra Garcia as he was driving her to Speaking Rock Entertainment Center in the Lower Valley via U.S. 54 on the afternoon of June 16, 2023.
Phoebe Copas
Copas’ former attorney, Matthew James Kozik, confirmed her death on Tuesday, March 25; the cause of death was not disclosed. The trial date had been delayed as Copas had faced serious medical issues, including apparently collapsing at a court hearing in December.
Copas claimed she shot Garcia in self-defense, claiming she was scared he was going to kidnap her and take her to Juárez, Mexico.
At center, Ana Piedra, the wife of Daniel Piedra Garcia, is comforted by family and friends during a vigil for her husband who was fatally shot on US 54 while driving for Uber on June 16, 2023. The vigil was held at Memorial Park.
Piedra was killed unjustly, his family members previously said, saying they wanted justice for a hardworking family man, adding that Copas had acted recklessly and that she should have spoken up or called 911 if she was scared.
“Phoebe Copas was and remains an innocent woman,” Kozik said in a statement, reiterating the claim that the Uber driver had told Copas that he was taking her to Juárez.
A vigil is being held Friday, June 23, 2023, for Daniel Piedra Garcia, an Uber driver who died after being shot by a passenger June 16, 2023, on US 54 in South-Central El Paso.
Kozik stated that the locks and windows of the vehicle were not operational and that there were razor blades in the vehicle. He also countered the police narrative as “false and that at no time did she report defending herself because she saw a sign to Juárez.”
“It has been disappointing to see some in our community react to this case in a way that we, as a diverse community, should know better,” Kozik said. “No one should rejoice in the death of Mr. Piedras or Ms. Copas.”
Daniel Borunda may be reached at dborunda@elpasotimes.com and @BorundaDaniel on X. Reporter Aaron Martinez contributed to this report.
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Former attorney confirms death of woman accused in Uber driver’s killing
