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Ohio man, 81, fatally shoots Uber driver, 61, after scammers target both of them, officials say

Discussion in 'BBS Hangout: Debate & Discussion' started by Reeko, Apr 15, 2024.

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  1. Reeko

    Reeko Member

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    An 81-year-old Ohio man has been charged in the fatal shooting of an Uber driver he believed was working with a scammer, according to officials who said the victim was sent to the home by the same scammer.

    William Brock told investigators he shot Loletha Hall, 61, outside his home March 25 because he thought she was working with a man who called him pretending to be an officer at the local court, Lt. Kristopher Shultz of the Clark County Sheriff's Office said.

    "Mr. Brock received some scam call by 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," Shultz said. "The calls turned from 'I'm an officer in the court' to 'We have this subject hostage, this is a ransom demand.'"

    The person who called Brock, or an accomplice, requested an Uber ride to his South Charleston home to pick up the money, Shultz said.

    "Ms. Hall did not have any idea," he added.

    When Hall arrived at the home and approached the front door, Brock confronted her with a gun and asked her who she was working for, Shultz said. He took her cellphone and prevented her from getting in her vehicle and driving away.

    “When she tried to get away, he shot her once, then there was more exchange between them," Shultz said. "Mr. Brock was at some point injured to his head, and he shot Ms. Hall a second time. There was more conversation, and then he shot her a third time. Only after he shot her a third time did he then make contact with authorities to report the incident."

    Hall did not threaten Brock, have a weapon or assault him, according to the sheriff's office and a complaint filed in Clark County Municipal Court. She was taken to a hospital where she died from her injuries, according to the complaint.

    In a statement, Uber said the company had spoken with Hall's family.

    "This is a horrific tragedy and our hearts continue to be with Loletha’s loved ones as they grieve," an Uber spokesperson said. "We have been in contact with law enforcement and remain committed to supporting their investigation."

    The Uber spokesperson said the account of the person who ordered a car to Brock's house has been banned. Officials have not identified the person who requested the Uber, and have not said if they have made any additional arrests in connection with the case.

    In a grand jury presentation Monday, Brock was indicted on three counts of murder, one count of felonious assault and one count of kidnapping, Shultz said. He will be arraigned on those charges later this week.

    It was not immediately clear if he has an attorney.

    Brock was originally arraigned on a murder charge in the Municipal Court of Clark County on Wednesday and posted a $200,000 bond. If convicted of that charge, he could be sentenced to 15 years to life in prison or a $15,000 fine.

    https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-new...uber-driver-mistakenly-thought-was-rcna147827
     
    #1 Reeko, Apr 15, 2024
    tinman likes this.
  2. Reeko

    Reeko Member

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    #2 Reeko, Apr 15, 2024
    tinman likes this.
  3. rocketsjudoka

    rocketsjudoka Contributing Member
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    What a horrible story. If Brock had just taken some time to think this through and work with law enforcement instead of trying to take out who he thought was scamming him she would still be alive.

    This is more reason to hate scammers and also to not be a vigilante and try to take the law in your own hands.
     
    #3 rocketsjudoka, Apr 15, 2024
    ROCKSS likes this.
  4. Andre0087

    Andre0087 Member

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    Certain media pushes an agenda to make it easier for you to be angry at the wrong folks. Don't know about this guy specifically but I hope it isn't the case.
     
    #4 Andre0087, Apr 15, 2024
  5. JuanValdez

    JuanValdez Contributing Member

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    That's a crazy story. I hope the courts come up with the right verdict because I sure as hell don't know what it should be.
     
    #5 JuanValdez, Apr 15, 2024
  6. tinman

    tinman Contributing Member
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    #6 tinman, Apr 15, 2024
    Last edited: Apr 15, 2024
  7. Xopher

    Xopher Member

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    K9 is from Ohio. Coincidence?
     
    #7 Xopher, Apr 15, 2024
  8. Reeko

    Reeko Member

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    Murder? Not sure what the confusion is

    even if she was part of the scam, that’s basically an execution
     
    #8 Reeko, Apr 15, 2024
    JoeBarelyCares, edwardc, Nook and 8 others like this.
  9. Invisible Fan

    Invisible Fan Contributing Member

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    Is this the good ol days I've been hearing about where people shoot their way out of a problem?

    The guy should teach zoomers what Values really mean!

    What would the Founding Fathers Do???
     
    #9 Invisible Fan, Apr 15, 2024
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  10. Amiga

    Amiga 10 years ago...
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    I recall something about well regulated something.
     
    #10 Amiga, Apr 15, 2024
  11. ThatBoyNick

    ThatBoyNick Member

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    "You kids are pússies, back in my days we'd shoot our Uber drivers"
     
    #11 ThatBoyNick, Apr 16, 2024
  12. Invisible Fan

    Invisible Fan Contributing Member

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    Just give them 2 stars and call it a day Boomer!!
     
    #12 Invisible Fan, Apr 16, 2024
  13. Invisible Fan

    Invisible Fan Contributing Member

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    Btw, wasn't this prophesized in the Black Mirror shockumentaries??
     
    #13 Invisible Fan, Apr 16, 2024
  14. Buck Turgidson

    Buck Turgidson Member

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    Ohio is the Florida of the Midwest
     
    #14 Buck Turgidson, Apr 16, 2024
    edwardc and DonnyMost like this.
  15. rocketsjudoka

    rocketsjudoka Contributing Member
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    Wisconsin raises its hand.
     
    #15 rocketsjudoka, Apr 16, 2024
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  16. DonnyMost

    DonnyMost be kind. be brave.
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    How do you call an Uber driver to "pick up (ransom) money"?

    Scammer sent an Uber to the scam-target's home, called/contacted the Uber driver telling them they will be picking up money and not a person?

    If that's how it transpired, Uber may need to update their guidelines for drivers to have them avoid becoming inadvertently involved stuff like this.

    I'm guessing the guy who pulled the trigger gets a murder charge while the scammer who put the Uber driver in harm's way gets some kind of similar but lesser charge (in addition to the, you know, scamming thing).
     
    #16 DonnyMost, Apr 16, 2024
    Last edited: Apr 16, 2024
  17. Xopher

    Xopher Member

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    Wisconsin has Cheese and Beer. They contribute more to society than Ohio.
     
    #17 Xopher, Apr 16, 2024
    edwardc, Rashmon, FranchiseBlade and 2 others like this.
  18. rocketsjudoka

    rocketsjudoka Contributing Member
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    This. Even if you think someone is scamming you shooting them isn’t the answer. It puts you in both legal and physical danger given that many scammers are part of organized crime that could be more heavily armed and vicious than you.
     
    #18 rocketsjudoka, Apr 16, 2024
    Rocket River and FranchiseBlade like this.
  19. DonnyMost

    DonnyMost be kind. be brave.
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    Brock is going to die in jail. No matter what was said to him by the scammer, I doubt the Uber driver ever presented any kind of threat to him.
     
    #19 DonnyMost, Apr 16, 2024
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  20. rocketsjudoka

    rocketsjudoka Contributing Member
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    He very likely will. My point is all of this could’ve been avoided. The driver would still be alive and Brock wouldn’t likely face jail time if instead of grabbing his gun he called the authorities or even thought through it first.

    This is why I’m so critical of vigilantes and celebrating them. I hate scammers and robbers too and have had to deal with them. Grabbing a gun and going to take them out just puts others and yourself safety at risk.
     
    #20 rocketsjudoka, Apr 16, 2024
    Rocket River, Phillyrocket, No Worries and 1 other person like this.
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