CLEVELAND — Cleveland Police are investigating after a rideshare driver was shot and killed Sunday night.
Around 9:50 p.m., officers were called to the intersection of East 103 Street and Rosehill Avenue after 911 callers reported a car had crashed into the guardrail in front of a home, police said.
But once rescuers arrived, they discovered the driver had been shot in the head.
The victim was transported to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
The Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner's Office identified him as a 56-year-old Antoine Latham from Cleveland.
Investigators believe Latham was a driver for the rideshare company Lyft.
But a police spokesman said it's not clear if the shooter was the same person who ordered the ride.
"They could have used someone else's phone, they could have asked for a favor, so all that's part of this ongoing investigation," said Sgt. Wilfredo Diaz.
Lyft sent the following statement regarding the shooting:
“We are deeply saddened by the loss of the driver in this tragic incident, and our hearts go out to their loved ones. Our team is working to reach the driver’s family to offer support during this difficult time. Lyft has permanently banned the rider, and is cooperating with law enforcement to assist in every way we can.”
A neighbor who said she feared for her safety and did not want to be identified said she saw a man get out of the driver's gray Chevy sedan and walk away toward Shaker Boulevard after the crash.
Diaz said police are looking into robbery as a possible motive for the shooting, which investigators think happened inside the car.
However, Diaz said right now, it appears this was an isolated incident.
"At this point, there's no indication that there should be a heightened concern for Lyft drivers or Uber drivers," said Diaz.
No arrests have been made at this time.
Diaz said the department has allocated all available resources to solving the case.
Police ask anyone who may have seen anything suspicious involving a gray Chevy sedan in the area of East 103rd Street and Shaker Boulevard Sunday night or has any information about the deadly shooting to call homicide detectives at 216-623-5464.
