PARMA, Ohio (WOIO) – At 27 years old, Vasyl Shvets escaped the deadly war in Ukraine and came to Northeast Ohio for a better life, only to be gunned down as he was trying to make an honest living.

There is still no arrest in Shvets’ murder. He is the second Lyft driver killed this week in Cleveland.

As his loved ones prepare for his memorial service on Saturday at St. Andrew Ukrainian Church, they remember a young man full of life, love, and who worked tirelessly to help his family.

Reverend Dmytro Kasiyan of Florida tells 19 News that Shvets was not only a dear friend, but family.

“I know that he loved his fiancée very much. He wanted to start a family. He was great with kids,” Reverend Kasiyan said.

Second Lyft driver killed in 36 hours

Shvets was working as a late-night Lyft driver on Tuesday when he was shot and killed in his car, which then crashed into a dumpster on East 84th Street in Cleveland. He was the second of two Lyft drivers killed in a 36-hour period in Cleveland.

“He escaped for a better life here — all his family is in Ukraine. So, he began his new life here working very hard to pursue the dream. Coming here because this is the country of freedom and peace, but unfortunately, he was killed here,” Kasiyan said.

The Ukrainian native’s dreams of working for a better life died with him; his fiancée, as well as other family and friends, are devastated trying to find out what happened.

“Whether it was a drive-by or if he was getting robbed, Vasyl would have given everything. Nothing is worth your life,” Kasiyan told 19 News.

Family seeks answers

“It’s very frustrating because his fiance and family in general want answers. They haven’t heard anything from the police. They haven’t heard anything from Lyft,” Kasiyan said.

After arriving in the U.S. in 2023, Shvets focused on living the American dream, sending nearly every penny he made back to his mother, father, and sister in Ukraine — a family that never had a chance to say goodbye.

“We just want to see justice served,” Kasiyan said.

A memorial service for Shvets will be held at St. Andrew Church in Parma on Saturday. His body will be shipped back to western Ukraine to his family.

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TNA Wrestling announced upcoming live events, including TNA Rebellion.

Rebellion will take place on Saturday, April 11 from the Wolstein Center in Cleveland, OH. Plus, TNA iMPACT! tapings will be held on Tuesday, April 14 and Wednesday, April 15 at Upstate Medical Arena in Syracuse, NY.

From TNA:

TNA Wrestling Makes Long-Awaited Return to Cleveland, Ohio & Syracuse, New York

Spring Pay-Per-View Tradition, Rebellion, Will Be Held On The Campus of Cleveland State University

The stars of TNA Wrestling return to Cleveland, Ohio, for the first time since 2013 with the Rebellion showcase event on Saturday, April 11, airing live around the world on pay-per-view. Rebellion will be held at the Wolstein Center at Cleveland State University, a venue that has hosted NCAA Division I basketball games and countless major events. The action-packed, high-energy event will feature championship matches, grudge fights, and no doubt, surprise appearances.

The fallout from Rebellion spills into Syracuse, New York, for back-to-back nights of emotional-filled pro wrestling on Tuesday & Wednesday, April 14–15. All matches in Syracuse will be taped to air in the U.S. on AMC on future episodes of Thursday Night iMPACT! These shows mark the first TNA events in the hometown of the Syracuse Orange since 2009. Both live events will be held at the Upstate Medical Arena at the Oncenter War Memorial, featuring championship matches and appearances from WWE NXT Superstars, thanks to the ongoing cross-promotion between the two companies.

TNA Wrestling World Champion Mike Santana leads the TNA contingent heading to Cleveland and Syracuse, joined by Jeff & Matt Hardy, Frankie Kazarian, Nic Nemeth, Leon Slater, Moose, Eric Young, Eddie Edwards, Brian Myers, and Mustafa Ali, plus Knockouts including Léi Ying Lee, Ash By Elegance, Tessa Blanchard, Elayna Black, Rosemary and Mara Sade, among others.

TICKETS FOR CLEVELAND & SYRACUSE

Official Pre-Sale: Wednesday, February 25, beginning at 10 a.m. ET
Official On-Sale: Friday, February 27, at 10 a.m. ET
Fans can register now for the pre-sale at TNAwrestling.com.

Fightful will have coverage of TNA Rebellion.