Akron man pleads guilty to murder of Lyft driver and assaulting deputy, inmate

A 26-year-old Akron man pleaded guilty Monday in the 2021 shooting death of Kristopher Roukey, a Lyft driver.

Kahlyl Powe pleaded guilty to murder with a firearm specification, carrying a concealed weapon and improper handling of a firearm in a motor vehicle, all felonies.

Hearings: Akron man accused of Lyft driver's shooting is competent, Summit judge rules

He also faced charges in two separate incidents at the county jail, one for assaulting a sheriff's deputy and another for assaulting an inmate, according to a Summit County Prosecutor's Office news release. He pleaded guilty to assault of a law enforcement officer, having a deadly weapon while under detention and felonious assault

Roukey, 48, was killed on May 2, 2021, when he worked for the ride-sharing service Lyft. Akron police said he was shot at about 5 p.m. near East Market Street and Buchtel Avenue.

Powe exited the passenger seat of Roukey's vehicle and then opened fire on Roukey, who drove down the street and crashed into a pole, police said. He was found with multiple gunshot wounds and was taken to Summa Akron City Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Powe's guilty plea comes after multiple health evaluations in which Summit County Common Pleas Court Judge Alison McCarty ruled he was competent to stand trial.

He will be sentenced May 16 at 3 p.m.

Bryce Buyakie covers courts and public safety for the Beacon Journal. He can be reached by email at bbuyakie@gannett.com or on X, formerly known as Twitter, @bryce_buyakie.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Kahlyl Powe pleads guilty to murder in Akron shooting of Lyft driver