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Summary: Vasyl Shvets, 27, a Ukrainian immigrant and Lyft driver, was fatally shot while working in Cleveland, Ohio, on February 10, 2026. His death followed the killing of fellow driver Antoine Latham, 56, two days earlier on February 8 in the same city. 20-year-old Derrek Dove faces aggravated murder charges in Latham's case, though the incidents may be unrelated. The Ukrainian community is raising funds for Shvets' family, reports say.
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CLEVELAND (DailyKenn.com) — Lyft Driver Fatally Shot in Cleveland's East Side, Marking Second Such Killing in Days
A 27-year-old Lyft driver originally from Ukraine was gunned down early Tuesday while on the job in Cleveland, prompting grief from his tight-knit immigrant community and renewed calls for rideshare safety measures.
Vasyl Shvets, who lived in nearby Parma, had moved to the United States in late 2023 to flee ongoing conflict in his homeland. Friends described him as a dedicated worker with a generous spirit, someone who cherished children and made passengers feel secure during rides. He had been driving for Lyft to save for a future, including plans to marry his fiancée later this year.
Police reports detail the sequence of events beginning around 1:10 a.m. on Feb. 10, when officers responded to a crash in the 2100 block of East 84th Street in the Fairfax neighborhood. They discovered Shvets slumped at the wheel of his vehicle, which had collided with a dumpster. He had sustained a gunshot wound to the torso and showed no signs of breathing. Emergency crews rushed him to University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, where medical staff pronounced him dead shortly after arrival.
Investigators determined Shvets was actively working as a Lyft driver at the time of the attack. Authorities have not released details on a possible motive, such as whether it stemmed from a robbery or dispute with a passenger. No suspects have been named, and no charges have been filed in his case as the homicide probe continues.
The killing came less than two days after another Lyft driver, 56-year-old Antoine Latham of Cleveland, was shot in the head around 9:50 p.m. on Sunday in the Woodland Hills area near East 103rd Street and Rosehill Avenue. Latham's car struck a guardrail following the gunfire, and he later died at a hospital. Police arrested a 20-year-old man from Garfield Heights in that incident, charging him with aggravated murder, but stressed the two cases appear unrelated, with the only shared element being the victims' employment with the same rideshare company.
Fellow drivers voiced alarm over the back-to-back deaths. One longtime Lyft operator called the violence senseless and urged companies to implement stricter passenger screenings and provide dash cameras. A part-time driver expressed heightened fear, particularly as a woman working nights, and suggested apps allow real-time location sharing with family for added protection. Another potential driver said the incidents have deterred her from starting the job altogether.
In Parma's Ukrainian Catholic community, where Shvets attended church, parishioners and friends gathered in mourning. His pastor remembered him as a faithful member with a positive outlook, while a close acquaintance highlighted his ability to brighten rides with kindness. A crowdfunding effort quickly amassed tens of thousands of dollars to cover burial costs and repatriate his remains to Ukraine, where his parents and sister reside. Community leaders prayed for swift justice and emphasized the need for safer conditions for all residents.
Lyft officials said they were devastated by the losses, extended condolences to the families, and pledged full cooperation with law enforcement. They confirmed banning any riders linked to the incidents from the platform and offering support resources to affected loved ones.
City officials, including the mayor, commended detectives for their rapid progress in one case and vowed to pursue accountability in both. As investigations proceed, rideshare workers in Cleveland remain on edge, balancing economic needs with growing safety worries.
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