AKRON, Ohio — A 39-year-old Uber driver from Bedford working in Akron was hospitalized Thursday night after being shot multiple times while picking up two passengers in the city's Goodyear Heights neighborhood.
The incident occurred on Stanford Avenue just before 9:30 p.m.
According to Akron Police Lt. Michael Murphy, after picking up the two passengers in a Kia Optima, one of them pulled a gun out and shot her six times.
After the shooting, the passengers jumped out of the car and ran off, Murphy said.
"We're not sure why they shot her. It doesn't appear to be a robbery attempt, so it's very concerning for us, and this is obviously a priority of ours," said Murphy.
Max Siglow, a neighbor in the area, described what he heard that night.
"We were watching a movie and then we just hear 'pop, pop, pop,' and we look outside. There's someone in the street hanging out of their car," Siglow said, "To happen on your street, it's really eye-opening."
The driver was taken to Summa Akron City Hospital for treatment. Murphy said her condition was stable.
The motive behind the shooting is unclear, and there have been no arrests. Murphy said the department is treating the shooting as an attempted murder investigation.
Uber provided the following statement about the driver being shot:
"We are shocked and sickened by this violence. Our thoughts are with the driver, and are reaching out to them to check in. We’ve banned the rider from the Uber platform, and are continuing to investigate the incident. We’ve been in touch with police, and will fully support their efforts to bring those responsible for this horrific act to justice."
The shooting is the latest in a string of crimes committed against service drivers in Akron. In April, a pizza delivery driver was injured after she was run over by someone stealing her car. In May, someone fired a rifle at a Lyft driver, and she was hit by a bullet fragment on Bisson Avenue. Last month, a driver was carjacked on Garth Avenue after picking up two men.
"If you're a rideshare driver and you experience anything that's suspicious, or you have concerns related to individuals that are inside of the car, please pull over, cancel the ride," Murphy said.
