An 81-year-old Ohio man, William Brock, stands accused of murder after a tragic sequence of events involving a scam call, an Uber driver, and fatal gunfire.
The incident, which unfolded on March 25 in South Charleston, left Uber driver Loletha Hall dead and Brock with injuries to his head and ear.
According to authorities from the Clark County Sheriff’s Office, both Brock and Hall fell victim to a scam phone call. Brock had received a call earlier, purportedly from someone claiming to be associated with an incarcerated relative, demanding $12,000 for the relative’s release. Threats against Brock and his nephew were allegedly made during this call.
Subsequently, an individual, possibly the same scam caller, arranged for Hall, unaware of the threatening situation, to pick up a package from Brock’s residence using the Uber app. Hall, described as suffering from medical conditions and unarmed, innocently inquired about the package upon arrival at Brock’s home.
However, the situation escalated when Brock allegedly held Hall at gunpoint, demanding information about the callers’ identities and confiscating her phone to prevent her from leaving. Despite Hall’s attempts to retreat to her vehicle, Brock purportedly shot her multiple times during a struggle near the vehicle’s door before eventually calling 911.
Brock faces a charge of murder, with additional charges under consideration by law enforcement. He entered a plea of not guilty, with bail set at $200,000. The search continues for the individuals behind the scam calls.
The tragic incident prompted a warning from the Clark County Sheriff’s Office, urging residents, particularly older citizens, to exercise caution when receiving unexpected calls soliciting cash for bail. The office emphasized that legitimate law enforcement agencies or courts would not make such solicitations and advised residents to be vigilant against similar scams.