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An Uber driver in Ohio was shot and killed by an elderly man who believed she was scamming him, according to authorities.
Uber driver Loletha Hall, 61, was allegedly shot dead by 81-year-old William Brock on March 25 after she arrived at his home in South Charleston, Ohio, per PEOPLE.
Brock reported the shooting to the Clark County Sheriff's Office, telling authorities that “a male on the phone threatened him and his family.” When Hall arrived at his home, Brock thought the Uber driver was associated with the man on the phone and "was going to harm him.”
Hall was shot "several times" and transported to a hospital where she succumbed to her injuries.
Following an investigation, authorities determined that Hall wasn't linked to the caller and wasn't a threat to Brock. Lt. Kristopher Shultz of the Clark County Sheriff's Office said the call Brock cited was a "scam" from a person “purporting to be someone from our courts who informed him a family member was incarcerated and that he had a bond of a significant amount of money.”
“The calls turned from 'I'm an officer in the court' to 'We have this subject hostage, this is a ransom demand,’ ” Shultz said.
An Uber ride was then requested by the scam caller, or an associate, which sent Hall to Brock's home. Hall "didn't have any idea" about the scam, Shultz said. Brock confronted her over the scam, took her cell phone, and blocked her from exiting from his home before shooting her multiple times, according to Shultz.
Brock was arrested last week on murder charges. He's pleaded not guilty to the charges, according to court documents.
"This is a horrific tragedy and our hearts continue to be with Loletha’s loved ones as they grieve. We have been in contact with law enforcement and remain committed to supporting their investigation," Uber said in a statement.
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