DETROIT – A Lyft driver was shot at Friday evening on Detroit’s east side after refusing a ride to passengers he suspected of illegal activity and the incident was caught on video.
According to police, the shooting happened at about 9:15 p.m. on Chene Street, near East Lafayette Street.
The driver refused to take two men to their destination after suspecting illegal activity. He told police that passengers can purchase prepaid credit cards and phones that make it nearly impossible for rideshare companies and authorities to locate and prosecute passengers involved in illegal activities.
"When the gentlemen walked up to the window with the phone that had the app on it, to change the destination, that's when red flags started going up," the driver said.
He told the men to get out of his car, telling them, "I'm canceling. You guys are doing illegal s*** here and I don't want anything to do with it."
But on their way out, one of the men grabbed some cash from up front. The driver called after the men and told them to stop.
"I guess it was just my natural instinct to just, you know, somebody grabbed something out of your car, you get out and run after them," he said. "Yeah, I know it was a stupid move."
In the video, you can hear several gunshots being fired.
When he heard those shots, the driver said he was thinking, "I hope I can make it home to my parents or my family ... I got home and told my wife, and she told me, 'No more down in Detroit after dark.'"
He said his biggest fear is that somebody is going to get killed in one of these incidents involving store-bought credit cards and cellphones. Many drivers want Uber and Lyft to crack down on those store-bought items.
He recorded the incident using TripCam security software and the video is available below.
The video shows the driver getting shot at shortly after telling the men to leave his vehicle.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Detroit Police Department.
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