A Lyft driver nearly lost his life after picking up a group of teenagers who assaulted and threatened him in the middle of the night has warned the community to watch their backs.
On Tuesday around 3 a.m. the driver said he opened up his Lyft mobile app and received an alert for a ride.
"I was hesitant to take it actually, and I thought well I will just go and check it out. I thought maybe it would be somebody trying to get to the airport," he said.
He picked up three teen girls at MAPCO on Lebanon Road in Hermitage.
They then asked if he could pick up their fourth friend on Jacksonian Drive. From there, the girls asked to be driven to Chimney Top Apartments.
During the ride, the driver said he and the girls chatted. They even asked him how much his car was worth and what kind of phone did he own.
He said when they reached the leasing office near the apartments that's when they tried to rob him.
"And then I said here we are, we're all here and I said are you guys ready to go. And they stalled and then that's when the girl that I picked up last said I'm a need you to effin' get out of the car," he said.
The driver turned around and found one of the girls pointing a gun to his head.
"I said actually the only way that you're going to get this car is if you put a bullet in my head," he said.
They told him to get out but he turned his car around speeding off with the girls still in the back.
According to a police report, another girl attempted to hit the driver with a bat.
When he told the alleged suspects he was taking them to the police, they girls got out of the car and ran on foot.
Now the driver wants to warn the community after recent carjacking attempts.
"There are four girls that are out in the Nashville area right now that are armed and dangerous and they're teenagers and they are trying to carjack somebody's car," he said.
He's reminding people to keep their car locked.
The driver said he's been working for rideshare companies for three years and plans to continue. Metro police are investigating the incident. The driver said he's thankful for the quick police response once he called for help.
He said he hopes the girls turn themselves in.
The man said he's thankful for the quick response from police. He wasn't sure the girls thought the whole thing out. He has one of their names thanks to the app and a specific address where they wanted to be driven.
A spokeswoman with Lyft's corporate communication team released the following statement:
This is an incredibly frightening situation - there is no place for such violence in our society. We are deeply concerned for the driver and their well-being, and have been in communication with both the driver and law enforcement to provide our support in the investigation. We have permanently deactivated the account associated with this ride.
Anyone with information was asked to call Metro Police.
