Cleveland Teens Arrested in Murder of Ukrainian Lyft Driver

Two 17-year-olds charged in killing of 27-year-old refugee Vasyl Shvets

Published on Feb. 17, 2026

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Cleveland police have arrested two 17-year-old boys in connection with the fatal shooting of Vasyl Shvets, a 27-year-old Lyft driver from Ukraine who was killed while working last week. Shvets, a recent refugee from the Russian-Ukraine war, was found shot in his car after crashing into a dumpster in the city's Fairfax neighborhood. Authorities say the investigation led them to the teens, who were arrested at an East Side address where two firearms were also recovered.

Why it matters

The tragic killing of Shvets, a Ukrainian refugee who came to America seeking a better life, has shaken the local community. It also highlights the ongoing risks and violence that rideshare drivers can face, especially in high-crime areas. The arrests come just days after another Lyft driver was shot and robbed on Cleveland's East Side, raising concerns about driver safety.

The details

Police found Shvets around 1 a.m. on Tuesday, shot in his car after he crashed into a dumpster in the 2400 block of East 84th Street. Shvets, who lived in nearby Parma, died at a local hospital. An investigation led police to a person in Arizona who had ordered the late-night Lyft ride, but that customer was ruled out as a suspect. The two 17-year-old suspects were later arrested at an East Side address, where two firearms were recovered.

  • On Feb. 14, Vasyl Shvets was found shot in his car after crashing into a dumpster around 1 a.m.
  • Shvets died at the hospital on Feb. 14.
  • The two 17-year-old suspects were arrested on Feb. 20.

The players

Vasyl Shvets

A 27-year-old Lyft driver and recent Ukrainian refugee who was killed while working in Cleveland.

Dorothy Todd

The Cleveland Police Chief who directed the investigation into Shvets' murder.

Antoine Latham

A 56-year-old Lyft driver who was shot and robbed two days prior in a separate incident on Cleveland's East Side.

Derrek Dover

The suspect charged with aggravated murder in the shooting of Lyft driver Antoine Latham.

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What they’re saying

“This senseless homicide brought uncalled-for suffering to the family of Mr. Shvets, and our hearts go out to the family. Though we cannot change the actions taken by these individuals, we are committed to bringing justice. Our Homicide Unit worked tirelessly around the clock, locally and out of state, to arrest these suspects. We will continue to bring justice to the families affected by this crime.”

— Dorothy Todd, Cleveland Police Chief (cleveland.com)

What’s next

The judge will decide on Tuesday whether to allow the two 17-year-old suspects to be released on bail.

The takeaway

The tragic killing of Ukrainian refugee Vasyl Shvets, who was working as a Lyft driver to support his family, has shaken the Cleveland community and raised urgent questions about driver safety and the ongoing risks faced by rideshare workers, especially in high-crime areas.