URBANA, IL (Chambana Today) – A teenager accused of murdering a Lyft driver in Urbana has been found guilty on all charges.
Tyjohn Williams, who was 16 at the time of the crime, has been convicted on four adult counts of first-degree murder after a three-day bench trial. Now 19, Williams was found guilty of killing 29-year-old Kristian Philpotts.
Philpotts, a Lyft driver, was working to save money for veterinary school at the University of Illinois, fulfilling a dream he had since he was 7 years old. That evening, Philpotts picked up Williams and two other teenagers, Na’Shown Fenderson, 16, and Jahiem Dyer, 17. The trio had planned to rob Philpotts. During the ride, when the car reached Vine Street and Burkwood Court, Williams fired a gun. The bullet struck Philpotts in the back, passing through his shoulder and lodging in his abdomen. His car crashed, and the teens fled, leaving Philpotts unresponsive at the scene. Police later found him without a pulse.
While Fenderson and Dyer were arrested the same night, Williams fled to Georgia, where he was captured two months later. The weapon used in the murder was recovered on a nearby roof, discarded by Fenderson. Dyer and Fenderson accepted plea deals two years ago, admitting guilt to obstruction of justice and agreeing to testify against Williams. Both received probation. Prosecutors argued that Williams acted alone as the shooter.
Philpotts’ murder has sparked discussions about safety measures for rideshare drivers, as well as accountability within the rideshare industry.