The Lyft driver’s wife said during a recent bond hearing that the alleged incident “happened while my husband was simply working”
Credit: FOX Carolina News/youtube
NEED TO KNOW
- A South Carolina woman was recently denied bond after allegedly stabbing her Lyft driver 11 times and stealing his car
- Naziyha La’Nay Weatherall, 22, faces charges including attempted murder and carjacking involving bodily injury
- A judge ruled that Weatherall must remain in custody until a psychological evaluation is completed in September
A South Carolina judge has denied bond for a woman who ordered a Lyft and then allegedly stabbed her driver 11 times before stealing his car.
The incident occurred in Greenville County on the afternoon of April 22, according to police reports obtained by Law & Crime. Naziyha La’Nay Weatherall was arrested in connection with the incident, per the outlet, Fox Carolina and Greenville County public arrest records.
According to the police documents obtained by Law & Crime, Weatherall, 22, ordered a Lyft ride to an apartment complex in Greenville.
Credit: Smith Collection/Gado/Getty
When the driver — whose name has not been released publicly — arrived to pick her up, Weatherall allegedly stabbed him 11 times and then stole his vehicle, per Law & Crime.
Police arrived at the scene around 2:30 p.m. and brought the man to a hospital, where he received treatment for his injuries.
Weatherall was arrested later that day, per public arrest records.
The Greenville County Sheriff’s Office did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.
According to Greenville County records, the defendant faces charges of attempted murder, carjacking involving bodily injury and possession of a weapon during a violent crime.
Weatherall, who has been in police custody since the alleged attack, was denied bond during a bond hearing on Friday, Aug. 28.
The Lyft driver’s wife spoke on his behalf during the bond hearing, claiming that her husband was still too emotionally and physically shaken to attend the hearing himself, as reported by Fox Carolina.
Credit: Greenville County Sheriff’s Office
“The alleged conduct was extremely violent,” the man’s wife said, per Fox Carolina. “The person was attacked vehemently with a knife, resulting in 11 stab wounds to multiple areas of his body. That demonstrates a level of violence that is deeply concerning for public safety.”
“What concerns us most is that happened while my husband was simply working. He was not looking for any confrontation, he was providing a service to a person. If this level of violence could happen to someone who was simply doing his job, we are concerned about potential risks to other people in our community,” she added.
In a statement to PEOPLE, a Lyft spokesperson said, “Violence like this has no place in the Lyft community or in our society. The driver’s well-being has been our priority, and we have reached out to them and their family to offer support.”
The Lyft statement continued, “The rider accounts involved were permanently removed from the Lyft platform, and we are continuing to assist law enforcement with their investigation.”
Weatherall’s defense attorney claimed she was experiencing a “mental health crisis” at the time of the alleged incident, per Fox Carolina.
He further claimed that she had been previously diagnosed with schizophrenia and was experiencing delusions that made her believe she was in extreme danger, per the outlet.
He claimed that Weatherall had ordered the Lyft that day to travel to a police station and seek protection from the perceived threats against her.
An attorney for Weatherall did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.
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Weatherall’s mother also spoke during the hearing, apologizing to the victim’s family while also claiming that the alleged attack was completely out of character for her daughter, per the outlet.
“She’s not a criminal. She would never, ever, ever hurt anybody like that,” the woman said, per Fox Carolina. “And I understand the family’s side, I truly do, because we are all suffering. We all are.”
The judge ultimately ruled that Weatherall must remain in custody until a psychological evaluation is completed in September, per Fox Carolina.
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