A late Sunday night rideshare run on Cleveland's East Side ended in deadly violence when a 56-year-old Lyft driver was found shot in his crashed car in the Buckeye-Woodhill neighborhood. Officers responded to the scene around 9:49 p.m., and paramedics rushed the man to a nearby hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. The case is now in the hands of the Cleveland Division of Police homicide unit.
What investigators say
Police were called to the 10200 block of Rosehill Avenue, where they found a vehicle that had struck a guardrail and stopped. EMS discovered the driver inside with a gunshot wound and took him to a local hospital, authorities said, according to WOIO. The station reports that the Cleveland police homicide unit is working with Lyft as investigators sort through what happened, and that no arrests have been made.
Victim identified and Lyft response
The Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner identified the victim as 56-year-old Antoine Latham of Cleveland. Investigators believe he was working as a Lyft driver at the time, according to News 5 Cleveland.
Sgt. Wilfredo Diaz told reporters that detectives are still working to pin down exactly who was in the car and how they may be connected to the shooting. "They could have used someone else's phone, they could have asked for a favor so all that's part of this on-going investigation," Diaz said, according to News 5 Cleveland.
A neighbor told reporters she saw a man get out of the driver's gray Chevy and walk away toward Shaker Boulevard. Lyft said it was deeply saddened by the killing, has permanently banned the rider involved and is cooperating with law enforcement as the investigation continues, News 5 Cleveland reported.
Community context
Buckeye-Woodhill has been trying to turn the corner on years of disinvestment, with small-scale revitalization efforts including community gardens and home-repair programs as residents and local groups push to stabilize the area and improve safety, according to reporting by Ideastream Public Media. Neighbors said the crash and shooting rattled a block that has seen recent community investment and renewed hope.
How to help
No arrests have been announced in the case, according to WOIO. Police are asking anyone who saw a gray Chevy sedan in the area of East 103rd Street and Rosehill Avenue on Sunday night, or who has information about the shooting, to contact Cleveland homicide detectives at (216) 623-5464, according to News 5 Cleveland.
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