Uber Driver on the Run for Sexually Assaulting 12-Year-Old Girl Arrested at McDonald's After Officer-Involved Shooting

Police shot and arrested former Uber Health driver Robert Gregory Johnson III at a Houston McDonald’s, ending his seven-month run after allegedly sexually assaulting a 12-year-old girl whose mother believed she would be safe using the service. TripAdvisor/KDFW

A 7-months-long manhunt for a former Uber Health driver accused of sexually assaulting a 12-year-old girl ended in an officer-involved shooting Tuesday at a Houston McDonald's.

Robert Gregory Johnson III, 33, had been on the run since August 29, 2024, when he cut off his court-ordered ankle monitor, just weeks after posting a $200,000 bond and walking free from jail. A Be On the Lookout (BOLO) alert was issued for him January 16.

Authorities from the Collin County Sheriff's Office Gang and Habitual Offender Strike Team (GHOST), in partnership with the U.S. Marshals Service Gulf Coast Violent Offenders Task Force, tracked Johnson to the McDonald's, per KDFW.

Around 9:45 a.m., officers instructed him to surrender peacefully. Johnson allegedly refused. Officers deployed a Taser, but it reportedly had no effect. When Johnson reached into a bag, officers opened fire.

Despite being shot, police said Johnson continued resisting until a K-9 subdued him. He was the only person injured and is expected to survive, according to the U.S. Marshals Service.

"This case highlights the power of community involvement and strong law enforcement partnerships," said Sheriff Jim Skinner, per local news. "The public's assistance played a critical role in this investigation, and we appreciate every tip received."

Johnson was initially arrested in July 2024 after allegedly assaulting a 12-year-old girl he picked up through the Uber Health app. Believing Uber Health was a safe transportation option, the girl's mother arranged the ride, and she was alone in the vehicle, according to police.

Johnson, who was driving the child from a Frisco, Texas, therapy facility to her home in Plano, diverted the ride to a parking lot and assaulted her, according to police. Before dropping her off, he allegedly warned her to stay silent or face "issues."

The girl told her therapist the next day, which led to Johnson's July 12 arrest on charges of aggravated sexual assault of a child. He was released on bond and monitored with an ankle bracelet until August 29, when he cut it off and disappeared.

Texas Rangers are investigating the officer-involved shooting while Johnson is back in custody and may face additional charges.