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[Love to Run]

An 81-year-old Ohio man is charged with murder after he shot a female Uber driver he mistakenly believed was working with a scammer and attempting to extort him, according to the Clark County Sheriff’s Office.

William Brock shot Loletha Hall several times outside his South Charleston home on March 25, according to a criminal complaint. Hall was taken to a local hospital where she died.

Lyft signage on a vehicle as it exits the ride-sharing pickup at San Francisco International Airport on Thursday, Feb. 3, 2022. Photographer: David Paul Morris/Bloomberg via Getty Images
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Brock told police that prior to the shooting he had received threatening phone calls from a male caller who claimed one of Brock’s relatives was being held in jail, according to a news release from the sheriff’s office.

The caller then asked Brock to wire money for the relative’s bond, and when Brock resisted, the caller began threatening to harm him and his family.

When 61-year-old Hall arrived in her Uber at Brock’s residence, he shot her multiple times, the release states.

Brock believed Hall had a connection to the scam caller and would kill him and his family, according to a 911 call he made after shooting her, authorities said.

Police released dashcam video obtained from Hall’s vehicle of Brock confronting her outside his home.

‘A horrific tragedy’
Hall received a request on the Uber app to pick up a package from Brock’s residence, the news release states. Authorities believe she was “unfamiliar with the circumstances” surrounding the request.

Hall arrived in her Uber, and dash cam video from her car shows her getting out of the car to speak to Brock.

William Brock was arrested and charged with murder as police saw no active threat presented by Hall during the encounter, and Brock failed to contact authorities for assistance, according to the Clark County Sheriff’s Office.
William Brock was arrested and charged with murder as police saw no active threat presented by Hall during the encounter, and Brock failed to contact authorities for assistance, according to the Clark County Sheriff’s Office. Clark County Sheriff’s Office
According to the news release, she made no demands of Brock other than to ask about the package she was sent to retrieve.

Brock was arrested and charged with murder as police saw no active threat presented by Hall during the encounter, and Brock failed to contact authorities for assistance, the sheriff’s office said.

Brock pleaded not guilty to a charge of murder and posted his $200,000 bond on Wednesday, according to court documents.

CNN has reached out to Hall’s family and to Brock’s defense attorney, Paul Kavanagh, for comment.

Uber has been in contact with Hall’s family and law enforcement, the company said. “This is a horrific tragedy and our hearts continue to be with Loletha’s loved ones as they grieve,” an Uber spokesperson said in a statement to CNN.

“We have been in contact with law enforcement and remain committed to supporting their investigation.”

Uber has banned the account of the individual who ordered Hall’s Uber to Brock’s house, the company said. Authorities believe that individual was either the original scam caller or an accomplice, according to the release.

The company says it’s committed to the safety of Uber drivers and has developed safety features including an in-app emergency button, route sharing features and the ability to connect to a live safety agent.

It’s unclear if authorities have identified the owner of the account or made any additional arrests.

[Commoner Exec Mr Wilkes]

This was horrifying to see on the news.

That poor woman.  Can't even imagine her fear as we see the final moments of her life as she attempts to leave.  It's haunting. 

[catter70]

I saw that last night. What a very sad story. I can't even imagine her fear.

[Caaareful Shopper]

Absolutely outrageous!  The 81-yr old man and hopefully the scammer(s) deserve murder charges and hopefully convictions.

The woman, a 61-yr old Uber driver was scammed just like he was.  The dashcam showed that she did not say or show any threatening behavior.  She was backing away from his house.  He followed her and shot her outside... multiple times! 

Sickening.

[CalminHeart]

CBS just showed the video on tv. Horrible! 

[SandySparkles]

This is heartbreaking!!!!💔 Reading this DEEPLY disturbing story shook me to my core!😔  This poor woman was just trying to make a living, and to have her gunned down like this by this ruthless murderer is unconscionable!!! I cannot imagine what it is going to be like for her family having to watch this play out in the media!!!I am sending heartfelt prayers of solace to them today as they begin to process this heinous act!!!🙏🙏

He does not appear to be distressed in his posted mugshot! In fact, it is quite the opposite! Viewing his expression made me uncomfortable.😔 There is just SO much more to this shocking story.😐

This was murder; pure and simple!!!😔

~~~All we need is LOVE💖

[haddon9]

Terrible story!  Looks like they were both being scammed.  What he should have done is to hold her in front of his house without shooting her and call the police if he believed that she was in on the scam. 

[Mimi NY]

• Saw this sad incident on my news and my heart went out to this women and her family. She was just doing a job as an Uber driver and being used by the scammers that started this with the 81 year old man. If he thought it was a scam WHY didn't he call the police to report the call he received and not take it into his own hands.You see and hear about  these scams all the time about a relative being held in jail and in need of bond money,so to me he acted like he knew it was a scam and went along with it , instead of slamming down the phone. Sounds like he  wanted to handle the situation his way instead of getting law enforcement involved.Plus WHY would family members if it was known to them  let someone that age have a gun never turns out well.

[skatting44]

What a horrible thing to happen.

2ndly , all these scam calls that most of us are hearing abt are not just innocuous. As in this incident , it only took someone to believe the scammers threats  and an innocent person is dead.   How and why do the Telecommunication companies & authorities still do nothing  to end all these scam calls  .

[paixmcdao]

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@haddon9 wrote:

Terrible story!  Looks like they were both being scammed.  What he should have done is to hold her in front of his house without shooting her and call the police if he believed that she was in on the scam. 

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"Hold her" on what legal basis? He has also been charged with kidnapping, as he should be.