DONKEY: 18 Y/O Kills Lyft Driver Then Steals Victims Car & Drives Off

Summary

---

Donkey of the Day: 18-Year-Old Kills Lyft Driver, Steals Car & Drives Off

Podcast: Donkey of the Day (Power 105.1 FM)
Host: Charlamagne Tha God
Air Date: April 2, 2026

---

Episode Overview

In this sobering episode, Charlamagne Tha God delivers the "Donkey of the Day" to Niana Allen Bailey, a 20-year-old Seattle woman who pleaded guilty to the murder of Amari Gaeta, a Lyft driver, during a carjacking in 2023. The segment unpacks the incident, its aftermath, and broader issues around accountability, trauma, and violence among young people.

---

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. The Crime and Its Aftermath

• Victim: Amari Gaeta, 52, a Seattle rideshare driver.
• Perpetrator: Niana Allen Bailey, 18 at the time, now 20.
• The incident: Niana approached Gaeta's car while he was taking a break, shot him, stole his car, and left him to die in the street. She then used the stolen car to run errands including buying an Xbox, shopping at Walmart, and getting her hair cut.

  “Young woman, she was 18 at the time. Killed a human, left him to die in the street, and drove around in that person's car for a few days running errands, you heard?” – Charlamagne [02:37]

2. Report from ABC4 News

• Emotional scene in court, with Gaeta’s family pleading for accountability.
• Prosecutors played a song from Gaeta’s son to his late father.
• Niana was high on multiple substances (Xanax, marijuana, mushrooms, Percocet, and tequila) during the murder.

  “The defense said she was high on Xanax, marijuana, mushrooms, and drunk on tequila at the time of the murder.” – ABC4 News [01:54]

3. Charlamagne on Accountability vs. Trauma

• Sympathy for Niana’s difficult upbringing, marked by neglect and substance abuse in her household.
• Recognition that trauma doesn't excuse heinous acts:

  “But just because you experienced hurt as a child doesn't mean you get to become the adult that hurts people.” – Charlamagne [03:34]

• “Our trauma is not our fault, but our healing is absolutely our responsibility.” [04:08]
• Call for consequences: “None of that is a get out of jail free card, okay? You must deal with the consequences of your actions.” [04:45]

4. Reflection on Violence Among Youth

• Charlamagne’s wish for a ‘kill switch’ to prevent senseless violence, likening it to anti-theft devices in cars:

  “Sometimes I wish humans had a kill switch. Meaning that whenever you are about to commit a senseless act of murder, okay, you die first, all right?” [05:06]

• Reminder that drug use or trauma might explain, but not excuse, the taking of a life.

5. Impact on the Victim’s Family

• Emphasis on the real loss: Gaeta was a father of two, “a life that’s never coming back. A family destroyed forever” [05:35].
• Charlamagne pushes back on shifting the narrative to the accused rather than the victim.

6. Mental Health Advocacy and Prevention

• Importance of early mental health intervention for young people.
• Urging listeners to heed adult guidance and seek help early to avoid tragic outcomes.

---

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “You stole a father away from his family. All right? A life that's never coming back. A family destroyed forever.” – Charlamagne [05:35]
• “Yes, trauma can explain behavior, but it doesn't excuse it. You know, I'm a big advocate for mental health. I understand you was on drugs, but I don't care, okay? You wanted to escape reality so bad that you destroyed someone else's reality forever.” – Charlamagne [05:47]
• "Please give Niana Allen Bailey the biggest he haw." – Charlamagne [06:09]
• On the drugs: “Yo, how do you see all of those drugs, like, that’s at one time?” – Co-host [06:18]
• “What you were you trying to kill yesterday? What you run away from?” – Co-host [06:45]

---

Important Segment Timestamps

• [01:07] – Charlamagne introduces the Donkey of the Day recipient and outlines the crime.
• [01:35] – News report audio: victim impact, details of the crime, and defense explanation.
• [02:37] – Analysis of Niana’s actions and mindset; commentary on danger and trauma.
• [04:08] – Reflection on trauma and accountability.
• [05:06] – “Kill switch” metaphor for preventing senseless violence.
• [05:35] – Empathy for the victim’s family and rejection of excuses for the crime.
• [06:09] – “Biggest he haw” sound effect and conclusion.
• [06:18] – Lighter, incredulous discussion about the mix of drugs involved.

---

Tone and Style

Charlamagne delivers his signature blend of honest, sometimes blunt, commentary infused with empathy and social critique. He balances recognition of systemic issues and personal responsibility, making forceful points about violence, mental health, and the lasting consequences of crime.

---

Summary for Listeners:
This episode is a tough but thoughtful look at a tragic crime and its ripple effects, exploring the complex interplay between trauma, substance abuse, and accountability. Charlamagne uses the segment not just to call out senseless violence, but to spotlight the need for early mental health intervention while refusing to let trauma serve as an excuse for destructive actions. The episode concludes with a sharp reminder to keep our ‘guards up’ and to care for mental wellbeing, especially among at-risk youth.

Transcript

[A]

This is an Iheart podcast.

[B]

Guaranteed human pressure has a way of revealing what remains steady. In the latest Nissan campaign, the Nissan Rogue was tested to the extreme to demonstrate that it's built to last through durability and reliability challenges inspired by real tests conducted by Nissan engineers. Brutal potholes, a steady force of water, even a jet powered sandstorm. Each challenge inviting a deeper look at how quality, durability and reliability hold hold their ground in real world conditions. Every test was 100% real. No CG, no AI. To see how the Rogue held up, visit nissan-duordability.com your execution on the Donkey

[A]

of the Day is something to behold.

[C]

Is it a reason?

[A]

He gave me Donkey of the Day and I deserve the people need to know.

[B]

Well, you need to tell them I

[C]

am because you have the voice. Tell them. Tell them it's time for Donkey of the Day.

[A]

It's a read, but you're so good

[C]

at it, you're trying to be a fake ass. Charlamagne. There's only one Charlemagne, damn Charlemagne.

[A]

Who you give a dunky of the day to now?

[C]

Well, sexy Red Donkey of the day for Wednesday, April 2 goes to a Seattle woman named Niana Allen bailey. Okay. She's 20 years old and she pleaded guilty to second degree murder in the tragic killing of 52 year old Amari Guetta. Okay, first things first. Rest in peace to Amari Guetta. It saddens me that your life was tragically cut short for absolutely nothing. Let's go to ABC4 News for the report, please.

[D]

Prosecutors played this song in court. It's from a 10 year old boy singing to his father, Amari Guetta, hoping he is now in a safe place after being killed while working as a rideshare driver in Seattle in August of 2023. The emotional family pleading with the court to hold 20 year old Nayana Alan Bailey accountable.

[C]

Today there's only one life sentence and that was for Mr. Getty.

[D]

Allen Bailey was 18 at the videos show her walking down First Avenue south, then approaching Gaeta's car where he'd stopped to take a break from his shift. As a Lyft driver, Alan Bailey approaches the door, shoots him, then steals the car. She then used the stolen car to go to Walmart, buy an Xbox and an Apple watch, and then got her hair cut. Esgueta's family and police wondered who could have murdered him and why. Within days they found the car and arrested Alan Bailey. She denied killing him at first, but later admitted to what had happened. At her sentencing hearing, the defense said she Was high on Xanax, marijuana, mushrooms, and drunk on tequila at the time of the murder.

[C]

Young woman, she was 18 at the time. Killed a human, left him to die in the street, and drove around in that person's car for a few days running errands, you heard? Went to go buy video games, went to go get their hair done. Like, this is why you can't just stay safe, okay? You gotta stay dangerous. I don't care how old they are, okay? Don't play with them. All right? Keep your guard up at all times, okay? You heard the news report. Court records said Niana approached Geeta's car, shot him, then stole the car and left him to die in the street. Now, when I hear stories like this, I have to hear more details. Even though I know people are sick and they're violent, just pure evil, My mind sometimes won't let me just accept that. So when I saw that defense attorneys called a doctor to testify about Niana's drug use, I was like, okay, now it's starting to come together. 18 years old, drug use. The doctor said Nianna was abusing alcohol and drugs. You heard it. Xanax, Percocets, mushrooms, tequila. She was high out of her mind. Before killing Gita, defense attorneys outlined Allen Bailey's childhood also. Okay. Which involved police responding to her home on reports of abandonment and drug use. The defense said, Ms. Allen Bailey has known nothing but a life of neglect. She deserved better. This is why I couldn't be a lawyer. Okay? I am extremely sorry Niana's life was the way it was. But just because you experienced hurt as a child doesn't mean you get to become the adult that hurts people. Okay? 18 as an adult. All right? I completely overstand the trauma, all right? Niana experienced. But we have to remember our trauma is not our fault, but our healing is absolutely our responsibility. This young lady never even stood a chance. Okay, Niana, you was out here being a reflection of your depression. You was out here being a reflection of your dark. You was out here being a reflection of your ugly. And all that should be taken into consideration. I wish you had gotten some help before you took a life. But, man, none of that is a get out of jail free card, okay? You must deal with the consequences of your actions. Sometimes I wish humans had a kill switch. Meaning that whenever you are about to commit a senseless act of murder, okay, you die first, all right? Right there on the spot. As soon as you are about to take somebody out, you know, the same way they have those kill Switches that are anti theft. Those safety devices that interrupt the vehicle's vital circuits and prevent it from starting. We need that same thing for humans, okay? As soon as you're about to commit a heinous act of violence against someone for no reason, everything shuts off, okay? Hearts, lungs, kidneys, every critical organ just fails. That's what I wish would happen, but that's not reality, okay? The reality is people are hurting, and they are projecting that hurt onto other people. But that's not an excuse to take a man away from his family. I understand you was 18, but I don't care. This brother had two kids. Okay, Nianna, you didn't just steal a car. You stole a father away from his family. All right? A life that's never coming back. A family destroyed forever. I understand the picture the defense attorney is painting for you, but this story isn't about you. It's about the life that was taken. Yes, trauma can explain behavior, but it doesn't excuse it. You know, I'm a big advocate for mental health. I understand you was on drugs, but I don't care, okay? You wanted to escape reality so bad that you destroyed someone else's reality forever. Now you have to deal with the consequences of that. Please give Niana Allen Bailey the biggest he haw. And that's why it's very important for, you know, kids to get help early. But also, listen to the adults in your life, because I guarantee you, somebody might have been trying to get through through to this young woman for a while. That's right. And now she's made a decision that is going to cost her 20 years of her life.

[A]

Yo, how do you see all of those drugs like, that's at one time?

[C]

And I'm wondering, will she hide for the next few days for her just to go live her life like it was? Of course.

[A]

Of course I do.

[C]

I believe that you have to go buy an Xbox, right?

[A]

Get your hair cut like, oh, get it done. Oh, I was gonna say so. She was a stud, but. But then you got shrooms. You got what you got liquor. What else you say? Xanax.

[C]

It's just crazy.

[A]

Like, damn, what you were you trying to kill yesterday? What you run away from?

[C]

Yeah, all right, well, thank you for that donkey today, Charlemagne. Now, when we come back, just fix my mess. If you need relationship advice or any type of advice, call her right now. 800-585-1051 is the Breakfast Club.

[B]

Good morning.

[C]

Donkey of the Day is sponsored by renowned personal injury attorney Michael the Bull. Lame Soft don't be a donkey when you need a fighter on your side. If you're ever injured, go to michaelthebull.com that's michaeltheboull.com and when you mess with the bull, you get the horns.

[A]

This is an I heart podcast. Guaranteed human.