Prosecutors in Ensenada have formally charged a man accused of robbing a rideshare driver at knifepoint and stealing his car in the Lomitas neighborhood on March 27.
The Baja California Attorney General’s Office (Fiscalía General del Estado, or FGE) identified the suspect as Jesús Manuel “N” and secured a formal arraignment following an investigation into the armed carjacking. Under Mexican legal convention, suspects’ last names are withheld until conviction.
How the Carjacking Unfolded
According to prosecutors, the suspect requested a trip through a rideshare app. When the driver, who was operating a white Dodge Attitude, arrived at the pickup location, Jesús Manuel allegedly pulled a double-edged knife and threatened him.
The suspect forced the driver out of the vehicle and fled with the car. The FGE opened an investigation and eventually identified Jesús Manuel as the primary suspect in the case.
Charges and Legal Consequences
The suspect now faces charges of robbery with violence, a serious offense under Baja California’s penal code. Vehicle theft committed with a weapon carries significant prison time in Mexico, with sentences that can exceed 10 years depending on the circumstances.
The Dodge Attitude is one of the most common economy sedans on Baja California roads and is frequently used by rideshare drivers due to its low operating costs. Rideshare platforms like Uber and DiDi operate widely in Ensenada, serving both locals and the city’s sizable foreign resident and tourist population.
Safety Context for Rideshare Users
Ensenada’s Lomitas neighborhood sits in the eastern hills of the city, away from the tourist corridor along the waterfront and Avenida López Mateos. The area is primarily residential.
Rideshare drivers in Baja California have faced a growing number of robbery and assault incidents in recent years. Drivers are particularly exposed because they travel to unfamiliar locations, often alone and at night, to pick up passengers they have never met. The apps provide some digital trail through trip records, which in this case likely aided investigators in identifying the suspect.
The FGE’s arraignment of the suspect was first reported by Ensenada.net.