COLUMBUS, Ohio — An 81-year-old man was arrested and charged with the death of an Uber driver after he reportedly shot her shortly after receiving a threatening scam call.
According to the Clark County Sheriff’s Office, an initial investigation reveals that a scam caller contacted William Brock on March 25 concerning an incarcerated relative. The caller allegedly informed him that one of his relatives was incarcerated and a significant amount of money was needed to post bail.
The call turned to threats and a demand for money.
A following investigation confirmed that Brock received scam calls to his house and that the same caller contacted an Uber driver through the app to pick up a package at Brock’s house.
The sheriff’s office says the driver, Loletha Hall, was not aware that Brock had been called and threatened. When she arrived to pick up a package, she made contact with him.
Hall reportedly suffered from medical conditions and was unarmed. Deputies say she made no threats or assaults toward Brock and no demands other than to ask for the package that she was sent to pick up.
According to the sheriff’s office, Brock held Hall at gunpoint, making demands for the identity of the person he spoke to on the phone.
The sheriff’s office says he took her cellphone to prevent calls and refused to let her leave.
Hall attempted to re-enter her vehicle to leave and was reportedly shot by Brock in the process. Brock was injured in a subsequent fight at the door of Hall’s vehicle.
Brock shot Hall two more times, according to the sheriff’s office.
He then called 911 for help. The sheriff’s office says when he called 911, he told the operator that he shot someone on his property who was attempting a robbery.
When deputies and medics arrived at the home on South Charleston-Clifton Road, they found Hall on the ground with multiple gunshot wounds.
She was flown to Miami Valley Hospital where she later died from her injuries during surgery.
Brock had an injury to his head and ear.
Brock was indicted on three counts of murder and one count each of felonious assault and kidnapping.
The scam call and events leading up to the shooting are still under investigation.
The sheriff’s office released the following statement regarding scam calls:
“The Clark County Sheriff’s Office would like to take the opportunity to again remind residents, especially our older citizens, that no Law Enforcement Agency or Court will make contact with anyone in the manner of this case to solicit cash for bail or other official law enforcement functions, and we encourage all citizens to use extreme caution when being contacted unexpectedly by subjects claiming to be relatives incarcerated in a correctional facility, or claiming to have direct knowledge of relatives incarcerated in a correctional facility.”