Chattanooga Times Free Press

Uber helps investigat­ors look into account tied to killing

- BY MARK SCOLFORO

Uber is helping investigat­ors look into an account that sent a driver to the Ohio home where an 81-year-old man allegedly shot the woman to death because he erroneousl­y believed she was part of a scam that targeted him, the ride-hailing company said Wednesday.

The March 25 shooting death of Loletha Hall is “a horrific tragedy,” and that account has since been banned, an Uber spokespers­on wrote in an emailed statement. “Our hearts continue to be with Loletha’s loved ones as they grieve.”

William J. Brock was indicted Monday on charges of murder, felonious assault and kidnapping for Hall’s death. Messages seeking comment were left Wednesday for him and for his lawyer, Paul Kavanagh of Springfiel­d, Ohio.

The grand jury also said a gun seized from Brock’s home, a .22-caliber revolver, is subject to forfeiture. Brock has pleaded not guilty.

Police said Brock called 911 before noon to say he had shot someone at his South Charleston home, claiming Hall had tried to rob him. Investigat­ors later said the driver was unaware of the scam call that Brock had received with threats and demands for money, citing an incarcerat­ed relative.

Hall “made no threats ... toward Mr. Brock, and made no demands, other than to ask about the package she was sent to retrieve through the Uber app,” the Clark County Sheriff’s Office wrote in a release. The police agency said Brock “produced a gun and held her at gunpoint, making demands for identities of the subjects he had spoken with on the phone.”

It’s not clear exactly what the phone callers said to Brock, but the sheriff’s office news release included a reminder, particular­ly to older people, that law enforcemen­t and courts do not solicit cash for bail money “in the manner of this case.”

“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,” the sheriff’s office warned.

 ?? CLARK COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE VIA AP ?? On March 25, William Brock, right, aims a pistol at Uber driver Loletha Hall outside his home in South Charleston, Ohio.
CLARK COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE VIA AP On March 25, William Brock, right, aims a pistol at Uber driver Loletha Hall outside his home in South Charleston, Ohio.

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