New Orleans Police Department employee stabbed to death by passenger while driving for Uber

A passenger fatally stabbed a New Orleans Police Department employee who was driving for Uber during her downtime on Thursday, and investigators said a suspect has been taken into custody.

According to Jefferson Parish Sheriff Joseph Lopinto, Yolanda Dillion, 54, picked up an Uber passenger in New Orleans and travelled to the neighbouring Jefferson Parish.

According to Lopinto's office, the passenger "stabbed (Dillion) repeatedly before fleeing the vehicle" once the ride was over.

Just before 3 p.m. on Thursday, someone reported the stabbing to the police, and sheriff's deputies discovered Dillion injured in the car in a hotel parking lot. After being transferred to a hospital, she passed away, according to the sheriff's office.

Within hours after the stabbing, a suspect was detained at the motel, according to the sheriff's office. According to the sheriff's office, the suspect has been charged with second-degree murder after admitting to stabbing Dillion.

According to Lopinto, Dillion worked as an Uber driver in her spare time while also working as a financial budget analyst for the New Orleans Police Department.

At a news conference with Lopinto on Friday, New Orleans Police Superintendent Shaun Ferguson stated that the fiscal portion of the police department is "taking it (Dillion's killing) fairly hard."

"She will be dearly missed," Ferguson said.

A spokeswoman for Uber told CNN in an email on Friday that the company is "very saddened by this senseless attack."

"Our thoughts are with Yolanda's family, and we are reaching out to them to offer condolences and support. We are actively working with the police on their investigation," the email reads.

According to online jail records for Jefferson Parish, the suspect was detained on Friday without the chance to post bail.

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