(USNewsBreak.com) – Experts warn rideshare passengers and drivers alike to exercise caution, including verifying that the person they are riding with is who they purport to be. However, things can sometimes go horribly wrong. For instance, a scam caller in Ohio used the service to target two people, resulting in one dying and the other facing murder charges.
It all started when 81-year-old William Brock started receiving scam phone calls from someone claiming to be a local court officer. The calls allegedly escalated into threats and demands for money, agitating Brock. Then, on March 25, 61-year-old Loletha Hall was driving for Uber when she received a request to pick up a package from Brock’s house.
However, Brock had not called for anyone to come pick up a package. He pulled a gun on her when she got out of the vehicle to collect the parcel, unaware of the calls he had received. The angry senior man didn’t believe Hall. He took her cell phone and refused to let her leave, demanding to know who was calling and threatening him. When she tried to escape, Brock allegedly shot her. He would go on to shoot her twice more. After firing the third bullet, he called 911, claiming she tried to rob him.
When authorities arrived, they called for transport to take Hall to the hospital. She later died from her injuries. Now, Brock is facing multiple charges in the incident, including murder, felonious assault, and kidnapping. If a jury convicts him of the murder charge, he could face life in prison. It’s unclear whether he had an attorney.
The rideshare company is assisting authorities in determining who sent the request for the package pickup. The platform has also permanently banned the account, per an Uber spokesperson. They called Hall’s death “a horrific tragedy” and said their “hearts continue to be with Loletha’s loved ones as they grieve.”
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