Road Rage Killer Sentenced to Life in Prison in Fatal Shooting of Uber Driver (DOJ)

WASHINGTON - Rodney Baggott, 58, of the District of Columbia, was sentenced in U.S. District Court today to life in prison without the possibility of release in connection with the fatal 2024 road rage shooting of Uber Eats driver Rasheek Abdullah near the Dupont Circle Metro Station, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.

"Today, a Washington, D.C., judge recognized the enormous harm a career criminal poses to our community. Rodney Baggott-a previously convicted killer-took another man's life in a senseless act of violence for nothing more than passing him on the road," said U.S. Attorney Pirro. "Today's sentence ensures this violent offender, who has shown complete disregard for the lives of others, is off our streets and behind bars where he belongs. We need more sentences like this to stop violence in D.C."

A federal jury deliberated for a single day before finding Baggott guilty on July 24 of first-degree murder while armed (premeditated), possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and two counts of unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon.

According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, on Jan. 30, 2024, Baggott was driving a white Mitsubishi Outlander to his then-girlfriend's office at a law firm in Dupont Circle. Shortly before 4 p.m., the girlfriend left her office and joined Baggott. The two drove to the intersection of Connecticut Ave. and Q St., NW. As Baggott made a right-hand turn, Abdullah passed him on the left-hand side. Baggott became enraged, believing that Abdullah had cut him off. Baggott drove up next to Abdullah, pulled out a gun, and shot him in the neck. 

Baggott fled the scene with his girlfriend sitting in the passenger seat. The girlfriend called an auto body repair shop to fix distinctive damage on the vehicle, damage that would go out on a police bulletin later that day and would ultimately be used to link Baggott to the shooting.

On March 2, 2024, a Montgomery County Police officer stopped Baggott and the girlfriend while they were in the white Mitsubishi Outlander when Baggott was arrested for illegally possessing a gun in the vehicle. On March 3, 2024, law enforcement found the gun used in the shooting during the execution of a search warrant at Baggott's girlfriend's apartment. The firearm had DNA that linked it to both the girlfriend and Baggott.

As a result of the shooting, Abdullah's health declined until his death. He became a quadriplegic from the moment Baggott shot him. His condition deteriorated over a three-month period until he succumbed on April 29, 2024.

Baggott previously was convicted and sentenced on a 2015 charge of voluntary manslaughter while armed.

Joining in the announcement was ATF Special Agent in Charge Anthony Spotswood of the Washington Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and Interim Chief Jeffery Carroll of the Metropolitan Police Department.

This case was investigated by the ATF Washington Field Division and the Metropolitan Police Department, with valuable assistance from the Montgomery County Police Department and the FBI Washington Field Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Benjamin Helfand and Daniel Seidel, and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Cameron Tepfer.  Paralegal specialist Melissa Macechko provided valuable assistance.

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