A late-night Lyft run on Cleveland’s East Side turned deadly early Tuesday when 27-year-old Vasyl Shvets, a driver and devoted fiancé, was found shot inside his car after a crash on East 84th Street. He was rushed to a nearby hospital, where he later died. Friends and supporters, along with a local remembrance page, have launched a fundraiser to help his family cover funeral and related expenses.
Police response and scene
Cleveland police were called around 1:13 a.m. to the 2100 block of East 84th Street after reports that a vehicle had slammed into a dumpster. Officers arrived to find the driver slumped over the steering wheel with a gunshot wound. He was taken to a nearby hospital but did not survive. Detectives are now working with Lyft as they investigate the killing, according to News 5 Cleveland.
Victim identified
WHIO reported that the victim was 27-year-old Vasyl Shvets and said Cleveland police later confirmed he had been driving for Lyft at the time of the shooting. Cleveland Police Sgt. Freddy Diaz told investigators the department does not believe the two recent killings of rideshare drivers in the city are connected, according to WHIO.
Remembrance and fundraiser
A post on The Cleveland, Ohio Remembrance Page shared photos of Shvets and described him as a “devoted fiancé.” The post links to a GoFundMe created to help cover funeral expenses and ease the financial strain on his family. The remembrance post also includes additional details for anyone who wants to contribute or share support.
Another fatal run within 36 hours
This marks the second deadly attack on a rideshare driver in Cleveland in roughly 36 hours. In the earlier case, WOIO identified the victim as 56-year-old Antoine Latham, who was found shot after a crash on the 10200 block of Rosehill Avenue. WOIO also reported that Lyft said it had permanently banned the rider tied to that trip and is cooperating with investigators.
Police asking for tips
Cleveland police are urging anyone who has information about the East 84th Street shooting, or who saw a vehicle in the area early Tuesday, to contact homicide detectives at 216-623-5464, according to News 5 Cleveland. Authorities say no arrests have been publicly announced in either case as investigators continue to piece together timelines and review surveillance footage and witness accounts.
