Man kills Lyft driver, then his girlfriend reports him to 911, AZ officials say

A man was arrested after being accused of shooting his Lyft driver dead, Arizona officials said.

On Sept. 22, a woman called 911 to report that her boyfriend, later identified as 29-year-old Angel Lopez, had shot their Lyft driver while they were being driven to Guadalupe, about a 10-mile drive southeast from Phoenix, according to a Facebook post by the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office.

When deputies arrived, they found the driver, 51-year-old John Lucas, unresponsive in the front seat before he was pronounced dead at the scene, deputies said.

McClatchy News reached out to Lyft on Sept. 25 for a statement and did not immediately get a responsey

“We are deeply saddened by the loss of Mr. Lucas, and our hearts go out to their family and friends in the wake of this devastating event. We’ve reached out to the family to offer support during this difficult time,” a spokesperson for the ride-share company told AZ Family. “The rider has been permanently banned from the Lyft platform, we are working with law enforcement, and will continue to assist in every way possible.”

Evidence found at the scene showed Lopez had fired multiple gunshots, but officials didn’t specify his motive, deputies said.

He tried to flee the area when officers arrived but was eventually arrested and charged with homicide and armed robbery, officials said.

The investigation remains ongoing, and anyone with information is asked to contact the sheriff’s office, officials said.

This story was originally published September 25, 2025 at 2:36 PM with the headline "Man kills Lyft driver, then his girlfriend reports him to 911, AZ officials say."