Ohio Man Faces Additional Charges in Fatal Shooting of Uber Driver Mistaken for Scammer

An 81-year-old man from Ohio entered a plea of not guilty to several charges, including murder, on Wednesday. The charges are related to the fatal shooting of an Uber driver, whom he mistakenly believed was involved in a scam to extort money from him, as stated by the Clark County prosecutor.

William Brock had previously been charged with murder for intentionally causing the death of Loletha Hall. Recently, a grand jury added two more charges of felony murder against him, according to court documents.

Brock is facing two felony murder counts for causing Hall's death while committing felonious assault and kidnapping. He also faces three murder counts, along with charges for kidnapping and felonious assault, totaling five charges.

CNN has contacted Brock's defense attorney, Paul Kavanagh, for a statement.

Brock’s $200,000 bond continued from the one set previously in court for the original murder charge on April 10, Clark County Prosecutor Daniel P. Driscoll said.

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

Lyft signage is seen on a vehicle leaving the ride-sharing pickup area at San Francisco International Airport on Thursday, February 3, 2022. The photo was taken by David Paul Morris of Bloomberg via Getty Images.

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Brock shot Hall multiple times outside his home in South Charleston on March 25. Hall was rushed to a nearby hospital but unfortunately passed away.

According to a criminal complaint, Brock informed the police that before the incident, he had been receiving menacing phone calls from a male caller. The caller had demanded money from Brock, falsely claiming that one of Brock's family members was in jail. The caller then proceeded to threaten Brock and his family.

When Hall, who is 61 years old, arrived at Brock's residence in her Uber, he shot her multiple times, according to the release. Brock was arrested and charged by the Clark County Sheriff's Office because they determined that Hall did not pose an active threat during the encounter.

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

CNN has reached out to Hall’s family for comment.

The judge is expected to schedule Brock’s next court date in the upcoming weeks, as stated by the prosecutor.

The original scam, as mentioned by the Clark County Sheriff’s Office, is still being investigated. Driscoll chose not to provide any comments on Wednesday, mentioning that revealing details of the investigation could potentially impact its results.

'A tragic incident'

According to a news release, Hall was asked to pick up a package from Brock's residence through the Uber app. It is believed that she was not aware of the situation 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

William Brock

Clark County Sheriff’s Office

She only asked about the package she was sent to retrieve from Brock, without making any other demands according to the news release.

Brock was arrested and charged with murder by the police because they did not see Hall as a threat during the encounter, and Brock did not seek help from authorities, the sheriff’s office explained.

Brock pleaded not guilty to a murder charge and paid his $200,000 bond on Wednesday, as stated in court documents.

Uber has reached out to Hall’s family and the authorities, the company confirmed. An Uber spokesperson expressed condolences, saying, “This is a terrible tragedy and we offer our heartfelt support to Loletha’s family during this difficult time,” in a statement to CNN.

We have been in touch with the authorities and are dedicated to assisting with their investigation.

Uber has taken action by suspending the account of the person who requested Hall’s Uber ride to Brock’s residence. It is believed that this individual may have been the initial scam caller or a collaborator, as stated in the announcement.

The company emphasizes its dedication to the safety of **Uber driver**s by implementing various safety features such as an in-app emergency button, route sharing options, and the capability to contact a live safety agent.

It is currently unknown whether authorities have been able to determine the owner of the account or if any further arrests have been made.

CNN has reached out to the Clark County Sheriff’s Office for more information.

Editor's P/S:

The tragic shooting of Loletha Hall by 81-year-old William Brock is a deeply disturbing incident that highlights the dangers of falling victim to scams. Brock's belief that Hall was involved in an extortion plot led him to take drastic and deadly action. It is crucial to exercise caution when faced with such threats and to seek assistance from authorities rather than resorting to violence. The investigation into the original scam and the potential involvement of others remains ongoing, and it is hoped that those responsible will be brought to justice.

Furthermore, the incident underscores the importance of safety measures in the ride-sharing industry. Uber's suspension of the account used to request Hall's ride is a step in the right direction, and it is encouraging to see companies taking proactive measures to protect their drivers. However, more can be done to enhance safety, such as implementing stricter verification processes for users and providing drivers with panic buttons or other emergency response systems. By prioritizing safety, ride-sharing companies can help prevent similar tragedies from occurring in the future.