Korean-American Lyft driver killed by carjackers while earning tuition for flight school

In a deeply tragic incident, a 27-year-old Korean American college student working as a Lyft driver to save money for flight school was fatally shot during a carjacking attempt in Houston, Texas.

The victim, Phillip Kim, had previously attended the University of Southern California (USC) where he studied architecture for two years before deciding to pursue his lifelong dream of becoming a pilot. In order to fund his aviation training, he had returned to his hometown of Houston and started driving for Lyft.

According to a report by FOX26 on March 18, the incident took place in the early hours of February 26 near the 4000 block of Ward Street in Houston. Around 2 a.m., Kim was using his father’s vehicle to drive for Lyft when he was ambushed by three armed robbers attempting to steal the car. Witnesses told police that the suspects forcefully dragged Kim out of the vehicle, assaulted him, and then opened fire before fleeing the scene in the stolen car.

Remarkably, despite his critical injuries, Kim was still conscious when police arrived. He was able to tell officers that he was a rideshare driver and that the assailants—whom he identified as Black males—ran up to his car and shot him multiple times. Kim was transported to a nearby hospital by ambulance but succumbed to his injuries shortly after.

Police later found the stolen black Hyundai Sonata abandoned in a ditch about eight blocks from the scene, near the intersection of Goforth and Draper Streets. The suspects had already fled.

Nearly three weeks after the shooting, on March 17, Houston police arrested one of the suspects and charged him with murder. Authorities are still searching for the remaining two suspects and have urged the public to come forward with any information.

The victim’s father, Mark Kim, spoke through tears, saying, “Phillip drove for Lyft to pay for flight school. He was pursuing his dream of becoming a pilot.” He described his son as a responsible and caring young man who found joy in helping others. “He worked harder than anyone to reach his goals,” he said. “I don’t understand why something this senseless had to happen to my son.”

Phillip Kim was a graduate of Bellaire High School in Houston and had shown great promise both academically and personally. His death has left the local Korean-American community—and many beyond it—devastated.

This incident is part of a disturbing trend: according to Houston police, two other rideshare drivers were also carjacked in the same area on February 20 and 23. While those vehicles were later recovered, the rise in violence has prompted authorities to ask local residents with surveillance cameras to check their footage and share any potential evidence with investigators.

As the investigation continues, the community mourns a young life full of promise, cut short by a senseless act of violence.

By Mooyoung Lee [lee.mooyoung@koreadaily.com]