Cop fatally shot Lyft driver as he wrongly feared he was being kidnapped by man from ‘gay fraternity’

ATLANTA, GEORGIA: According to a press release from the Atlanta Police Department, an officer was arrested for allegedly shooting and fatally injuring his Lyft driver, identified as Reginald Folks, aged 35, on Wednesday, May 15.

Koby Minor, who served as an officer with the Atlanta Police Department for almost six years, resigned from his position following his arrest and subsequent charges of murder and aggravated assault. Records from Fulton County Jail indicate that he is currently detained in custody.

What happened to Reginald Folks?

According to The Atlantic Journal-Constitution, Reginald Folks was fatally shot on South Fulton Parkway near Stonewall Tell Road in Union City, Georgia. around 12:30 am on Wednesday, May 15.

After being taken into police custody, Minor informed authorities that he had ordered a Lyft upon leaving another Atlanta police officer’s home.

Folks, the Lyft driver, picked up Minor. Minor claims that Folks began conversing in a foreign language on the phone.

Minor requested Folks to stop the vehicle, but Folks continued driving. Allegedly, at a red light, Minor attempted to exit the vehicle but was unable to do so.

He asserts that Folks then turned towards the back seat.

Minor informed authorities that he retrieved his firearm and shot Folks three times. Subsequently, Minor broke the car window and fled the vehicle.

As per warrant documents, another driver stopped for Minor when they saw him signaling for help.

This witness reported that Minor claimed Folks "is in a gay fraternity and was trying to recruit Minor into it and (he) believed he was getting kidnapped."

How did victim Reginald Folks' loved ones react?

Marchelle Folks, Folks' mother expressed the family's profound sadness regarding "the entire thing" as per 11Alive.

She said, "He was my oldest, 35, I just talked to him on Mother's Day, and he had just talked to his brother for three hours.”

She said, "[I'm] very proud of the man he became. Everywhere I went, people met him and enjoyed him. He always ran into people that he knew. He was a friendly guy, very social. Reggie was pretty much  life of the party."

Marchelle is currently living in Delaware claimed, "he loved Atlanta, He was my oldest, 35,I just talked to him on Mother's Day, and he had just talked to his brother for three hours... We are heartbroken about the entire thing."

She mentioned that Reggie had recently begun pursuing professional wrestling and had a genuine passion for it. Despite his dedication to wrestling, he also worked as a Lyft driver on the side to earn additional income.

According to Lyft spokesperson, “Our hearts are with Mr. Folks' loved ones as they confront this unspeakable tragedy, and we have reached out to offer our support during this difficult time. We stand ready to assist law enforcement with any investigation and have permanently banned the rider’s account from the Lyft community,”

Who is Koby Minor?

Koby Minor joined APD in July 2018. An APD press release indicated that at the time of his apprehension, Minor was on unpaid administrative leave due to an arrest in Milton in December 2023.

According to warrants related to that arrest, he was alleged to have had 20 Xanax pills in Schedule IV in his possession, found both on his person, in his vehicle, and in a personal bag.

The incident took place after Minor was involved in a single-vehicle collision, with authorities suspecting impairment at the time of the accident.

APD mentioned that Minor's department-issued firearm was confiscated when he was placed on unpaid administrative leave last year. Since then, the firearm has remained in APD's possession.