DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. — A grieving mother is calling for justice after her son, 31-year-old Rafeeq Badee, was shot and killed while driving for Lyft in DeKalb County over the weekend.
Badee was found at the Parkway Grand Apartment Complex on Woodberry Place, just off Flat Shoals Parkway, on Nov. 30.
Witnesses reported hearing gunshots around 7:30 p.m., followed by a man screaming. When officers arrived, they discovered Badee in the parking lot with multiple gunshot wounds.
His mother, LaGina Living, described Badee as a “beautiful soul” and said the loss was “senseless.”
“He deserves justice,” Living said. “He had so much to give. Like all of us, he was just trying to make a living.”
According to Living, Badee had turned on his Lyft app shortly before heading to his security job in Atlanta. He often drove for Lyft before or after shifts.
“He lived less than two miles from where this happened,” she said.
Police have released few details about the case, but his family said Badee’s car was taken after the shooting.
Witnesses reported seeing several suspects fleeing the scene.
Lyft issued a statement saying the company is cooperating with investigators. The rider Badee was picking up, who has not been publicly identified, has been permanently banned from using the platform.
For Living, the tragedy is an unimaginable loss.
“I told him every time to be careful. He didn’t think this would happen, but it did,” she said. “I never thought I’d have to explain his life because he’s supposed to outlive me.”
Badee leaves behind a younger brother.
Police have not publicly identified any suspects. Anyone with information is urged to contact DeKalb County Police.
11Alive's More Than a Number series seeks to humanize crime coverage by "giving a face to the victim and a voice to the family." If you would like to honor a loved one you lost, you can use the form below or email us at MoreThanANumber@11alive.com to tell us about them, and we will add them to our memorial page.
If you need help or support in your time of loss, please visit our resource guide. For more details on this project, please visit 11alive.com/MoreThanANumber.