An 81-year-old Ohio man has been charged with murder after allegedly shooting an Uber driver who thought she was picking up a package from the man's house. Both appeared to have been victims of scam phone calls, the Clark County Sheriff's Office said in a news release.
The Uber driver, identified as Hall, a Black woman, was taken to a hospital in Dayton, where she died of her injuries.
Investigators discovered that the man, identified as Brock, had earlier received a scam call about an incarcerated relative, which had involved threats and demands for money.
In a bizarre turn of events, a woman named Hall was hired through the Uber app to pick up a package from a residence, not knowing that the homeowner, Brock, had been threatened by scammers. The sheriff's office reported that Hall, who was unarmed and suffering from medical conditions, innocently inquired about the package without making any threats or demands.
However, Brock allegedly held Hall at gunpoint, demanding information about the scam callers and confiscating her phone. He then proceeded to shoot her multiple times after a struggle near her vehicle, before finally calling 911.
Court records revealed that Brock has been charged with murder, which could result in a sentence of 15 years to life in prison. Additional charges are being considered by the police. Despite pleading not guilty, Brock's bail was set at $200,000. Authorities are still on the lookout for the individuals behind the scam calls.
The Clark County Sheriff's Office issued a warning to residents, particularly the elderly, emphasizing that no Law Enforcement Agency or Court will request cash for bail in the manner described in a recent case. The office advised residents to exercise caution when receiving unexpected contact from individuals claiming to be relatives in a correctional facility.
