SAN DIEGO (KGTV) -- A Lyft driver was arrested in Linda Vista after police say he stabbed one of his passengers following an argument early Sunday morning.
According to police, Ali Kendirli, 33, was arrested on the 6100 block of Caminito Del Oeste at 1:16 a.m.
Police said an argument started after the three passengers in the vehicle couldn’t give an exact drop-off location. At one point during the argument, the driver stopped his car and demanded that all three passengers get out. The argument continued before Kendirli stabbed one of the passengers in the chest. The 27-year-old victim was taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
10News spoke to the woman who was expecting her three friends at her University Canyon West home.
“One of my friends just called me and said ‘Something really weird happened. Our friend got stabbed!” she said. She said she immediately ran outside to see her friend clutching his chest. Two of the female passengers were on the phone with 9-1-1.
She then showed 10News the bomber jacket her friend was wearing at the time of the stabbing. Tear marks suggest he was stabbed multiple times. Paramedics rushed the victim to the hospital, while Police officers tracked and contacted Kendirli through the App, and asked him to come back to the scene. Within minutes, Kendirli returned and was arrested for Assault and Battery.
Lyft told 10News that Kendirli has been “permanently deactivated.” The company also called the allegations “disturbing and unacceptable.”
"Our thoughts are with the passenger, who we have reached out to offer our full support and assistance. We stand ready to assist law enforcement with an investigation,” the company said.
According to friends, the stabbing victim received stitches this morning. He is expected to make a full recovery.
