Milwaukee Lyft driver held at gunpoint, carjacked by passengers
MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- What started off as a typical shift as a Lyft driver turned into an almost deadly one for a Milwaukee woman.
"The other guy had a gun in my ribs here, and said, get out of the effing car, I’m going to shoot you," said Candice Kozinski. "Then they’re all screaming, 'Get out the car!'”
Saturday, Kozinski says she was on her fourth Lyft ride of the night, when four men, who were passengers, pulled her out of her car. She says they hit her and held her at gunpoint before driving off.
“I landed on the ground, actually got caught under the door, so I have various bruises," said Kozinski. "This is from him stomping on my leg, and a cut here from the door, which I still have the bandage and other bruises.”
Milwaukee police say the suspects drove around for a short time. When MPD spotted them, they took off on a short chase.
Police say they lost sight of the car, later finding it abandoned near North 40th St. and W. Locust.
“I’m glad I got my car back, but it’s not the same," said Kozinski. "It’s just violated.”
She finally has her car back but says it has thousands of dollars' worth of damage.
"Have to replace the windshield and everything connected to it," said Kozinski. "The brakes are shot because of the high-speed chase, and the slight damage of the bumpers, where the license plate was ripped off, and then I have to replace everything in a new phone.”
CBS 58 reached out to Lyft regarding the incident, and they say that rider account is permanently banned.
"We are deeply troubled by this incident, which has no place in the Lyft community or in our society," said a Lyft spokesperson. "We're working with law enforcement and have permanently banned the rider account involved, and have reached out to the driver to offer support."
While Lyft says the rider account involved has been banned, Kozinski says she's still uneasy as no arrests have been made.
“I’m afraid to be out in the daylight, but it’s my transportation, my livelihood, you know, so I have to use it," said Kozinski. "But it’s definitely not the same. It just feels contaminated, like even if I had it deep cleaned, and I don’t think it’ll still be the same.”
Milwaukee police say this is an ongoing investigation and they're still searching for suspects.
Anyone with any information is asked to contact Milwaukee police at (414) 935-7360 or to remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at (414) 224-TIPS or P3 Tips App.
There is a GoFundMe to help Candice Kozinski here.
