Phoenix-area Lyft driver killed on wedding anniversary

PHOENIX – Police in Phoenix have no suspect yet in the fatal shooting of a ride-share driver early Sunday.

Harold Treadwell III, 71, a Lyft driver, died on Baseline Road near 32nd Street around 12:30 a.m.

He and his wife, Frances, had been married 52 years ago that date.

Sgt. Maggie Cox said witnesses told officers they heard a gunshot and then saw a westbound vehicle cross the median into eastbound lanes before stopping.

He had been shot in the upper torso. “Investigators are pretty confident (the shot) came from outside the vehicle,” Cox told KTAR News 92.3 FM on Tuesday.

The great-grandfather was pronounced dead at the scene.

A GoFundMe account note said Frances Treadwell had spoken to her husband minutes before he was shot, wishing one another happy anniversary.

The note said Frances and their son received the news of Treadwell’s death around 4:30 a.m.

In an emailed statement to ABC15, a Lyft representative said, “We are deeply saddened and shocked by this loss. Our sympathies go out to the loved ones of Harold Treadwell and all those impacted by this tragedy.

“We are actively assisting law enforcement and will continue helping in any way we can.”

Anyone with information about the shooting can call police at 602-262-6151 or Silent Witness at 480-WITNESS or 480-TESTIGO for Spanish.

In January, a driver working for Lyft was stabbed to death and her vehicle stolen in Tempe. Kristina Howato, 39, was at least 28 weeks pregnant and was mother to a 4-year-old and a 2-year-old.

Fabian Durazo, 20, pleaded not guilty to two counts of first-degree murder and one count each of armed robbery, theft of means of transportation and kidnapping.

KTAR News 92.2 FM’s Jim Cross contributed to this report.

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