CHESTERFIELD, Va. (AP) - The suspect in the fatal shooting of a ride-hailing driver lived on the same street where the driver was found dead in his vehicle, according to police in Virginia.
Bernard Smith, 18, was charged with second-degree murder Thursday in the shooting death of Franklin Farrens, 79, news outlets reported.
Farrens was an employee for Lyft and Smith was his passenger around 4 a.m. Monday, police told news outlets. Police were called around 6:30 a.m. to a crash involving Farrens’ car in Smith’s neighborhood.
Farrens was found inside his vehicle with gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead at the scene, police said.
Investigators haven’t determined a motive, but there’s no indication the fatal shooting happened during a robbery, Chesterfield police Capt. Jay Thornton told the Richmond Times-Dispatch.
Smith was charged with second-degree murder because police don’t believe the shooting was premeditated, Thornton said. Smith has also been charged with using a firearm in the commission of a felony.
Smith appeared in court Thursday where he was appointed an attorney. He was being held without bond.
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