Displaying items by tag: murder

Akron Police have named a suspect in the deadly shooting along Silvercrest Avenue Thursday evening, just before 8 o'clock.

According to the report, police say a woman was shot in the head while sitting in the front seat of a car in the 1000 block of Silvercrest. That witness told detectives that the victim and another woman who was driving were there to meet a man, who has been identified as 42-year-old Coley Richardson of Silvercrest Avenue (pictured). 

The witness says Richardson got into the back seat of the car and then shot the victim in the head, after which he ran from the scene. 

Richardson hasn't been caught yet. Akron Police say he's armed and dangerous.

The victim has not been identified yet, pending an autopsy and notification to the family, according to the Medical Examiner. 

Anyone with information about Coley Richardson’s whereabouts is encouraged to call the Akron Police Department Detective Bureau at 330-375-2490; or 330-375- 2Tip, or the Summit County Crimestoppers Inc. at 330-434-COPS. You can also text TIPSCO with your tips to 274637 (Crimes). Callers can remain anonymous.

UPDATE: Akron Police Detectives have officially charged Danny A. Hamby, 39, of Springfield Township, and Toni Kenney, 31, of Warren, with murder in connection to the death of Samantha Guthrie, 18, of Akron. 

Both Hamby and Kenney are already in Summit County Jail on charges related to Guthrie's disappearance on November 4th, where she was seen at a home in the 300 block of Lillian Street. 

According to the Summit County Medical Examiner, she died from a gunshot wound to the head. 

The Akron Police Department says that the missing person/homicide case is still under investigation. Two others were arrested in the case as well. 

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The Summit County Medical Examiner has positively identified the body that was found in a wooded area along Rex Hill Road in New Franklin early Sunday morning just after midnight as that of missing 18-year-old from Akron, Samantha Guthrie.

The cause of death, according to the report, was a gunshot wound to the head.

Guthrie was last seen November 4th at a home near the Akron Zoo, according to reports, where two people who were arrested say that they were there when she was shot. Akron Police have arrested two others, totalling four people in connection to Guthrie's disappearance.

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Akron Police, along with the New Franklin Police Department and the Summit County Medical Examiner's Office are investigating after woman's body was found just after Midnight Sunday morning in a wooded area near Rox Hill Road in New Franklin. 

The victim's name is being withheld, pending an autopsy that scheduled for Monday. 

Meanwhile a Facebook page dedicated to the search for missing Akron woman, Samantha Guthrie who was last seen at a party at a home near the Akron Zoo on November 4th claims that her body was found as of Sunday morning. No confirmation from Akron Police.

The Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force is offering a reward for information which would lead to the capture of fugitive Bryan Esters.

Esters is wanted by the United States Marshals Service and the City of Akron Police for Murder and Felonious Assault. Esters is believed to have committed the homicide in the 300 block of Pioneer Street, Akron, OH that occurred on July 1, 2018. Esters, 33, is a black male, standing approximately 5 feet 8 inches and weighing 190 pounds.

Esters has ties throughout Akron area but his last known address is the 600 Block of Fern St. Akron. He should be considered armed and dangerous.

If you have any information in reference Bryan Esters, please contact the Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force at 1-866-4WANTED or Text keyword WANTED and tip to 847411 (tip411). Tipsters can remain anonymous and reward money is available.

Akron Police busy over this past weekend, responding to shots fired outside a home in the 900 block of East Archwood Avenue, a felonious assault early Saturday morning  at the Parklane Manor apartments on Wren Walk that left one man shot with serious injuries, two breaking and enterings, and murder.

Around 2 p.m. Sunday, Police were called to a home in the 1000 block of Silvercrest Avenue on a report of a shooting and found a man dead in the driveway.

The victim's name hasn't been released pending the results of an autopsy, but police confirm that it was his father, Leon Portis Senior, 75, who was taken into custody, was charged with murder.

According to the APD report, Portis told detectives that he and his son got into a fight and that he shot him.

The Stark County Sheriff's Office says Jacob Stockdale, 26, has turned himself in after the Stark County Grand Jury issued a secret indictment earlier this week, charging him with the murder of his 21-year-old brother James and his 54-year-old mother Kathryn.

According to the report, Stockdale shot himself after killing his brother and mother in their home in Bethlehem Township back in June of 2017. 

Stockdale had been recovering from his self-inflicted wounds, and was charged this week.

Sheriff George Maier, in a statement, said, "It is our hope that this arrest offers some closure to the Stockdale family and the entire community."

See the full statement from Sheriff Maier below: 

A Wadsworth teen charged with aggravated murder in the death of his elderly neighbor has pleaded not guilty to all 9 felony counts against him. 

Gavon N. Ramsay, 17, a Junior at Wadworth High School, is charged as an adult in the death of 98-year-old Margaret Douglas, who police say was murdered and her body hidden in a closet inside of her home on Portage Street back on April 9th. 

Ramsay was indicted back on May 22nd, and on Tuesday, he appeared in Medina County Common Pleas Court in front of Judge Joyce V. Kimbler. Chief Public Defender Jocelyn Stefancin entered a "not guilty" plea to each of the 9 felony counts against Ramsay, which include four counts of Aggravated Murder, two counts of Murder, one count of kidnapping, one count of Aggravated Burglary, and one county of Gross Abuse of a Corpse. 

The murder trial of Ramsay is set to begin August 6th. He's currently being held in the Medina County Juvenile Detention Center on $1 Million bond. 

A Summit County jury has found Darshawn T. McCormick, 25, guilty in a shooting death of another man back on December of 2016. 

According to Summit County Prosecutor Sherri Bevan Walsh's office, MCCormick was convicted on Wednesday on two counts of murder with a gun specification, one count of felonious assault with a gun specification, and having a weapon under disability. 

Court records indicate that back on December 26th, 2016, Javanta Virden was working on a car that was parked in a lot along Ericsson Avenue in Akron when he was approached by three people, one of whom was McCormick. The information doesn't point to a motive, but Virden was shot and killed. A subsequent investigation led investigators back to McCormick and he was arrested and charged. 

McCormick will be sentenced by Summit County Common Pleas Court Judge Jason Wells on Tuesday June 26, at 1 p.m. 

UPDATE: The following is an update from the Akron Police Department: 

With the assistance of the U.S. Marshals Office Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force, the suspect involved in last night’s homicide outside of Luei’s Carryout, located at 1012 Hammel Street, has been arrested.

Task force officers and officers from the Akron Police Department arrested Jarvell Henderson, 27, with an unknown address in Akron. Henderson was taken into custody on Akron’s west side without incident. Henderson will be charged with aggravated robbery and aggravated murder and booked into the Summit County Jail.

Shortly after 4:00pm yesterday evening, Henderson entered Luei’s Carryout armed with a handgun. Henderson robbed the clerk and fled the store. While Henderson was fleeing the store, a customer who witnessed the robbery sprayed Henderson with a chemical mace. Henderson fired a shot, striking the victim. The victim was transported to a local hospital where he later died. Henderson fled through a neighboring apartment complex.

Henderson was identified after he dropped an out of state identification card at the scene of the robbery/homicide.

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Akron Police Detectives are investigating a deadly shooting that happened after an alleged robbery outside a carryout store in Akron. 

According to the report, the suspect robbed Leui's Market about 4 o'clock Tuesday afternoon. As he was leaving with the cash, the suspect was confronted by a man who witnessed what had happened. That man sprayed the suspect with what is thought to be pepper spray, trying to stop him. The suspect then shot the victim and ran. The victim was taken to Akron City Hospital where he was later pronounced dead. His name hasn't been released, pending an autopsy and positive identification from the Summit County Medical Examiner. 

The suspect (pictured) is described as a black male, between 25 and 30-years-old, about 5'3", 13-140 pounds, with a short beard. He was wearing a plaid shirt, black Carhartt jacket, blue jeans, and white sneakers. 

Anyone with any information or who may have witnessed the incident is asked to call Akron Police Detective's Bureau. 

Police have made an arrest in the murder of a 32-year-old Cuyahoga Falls man. 

Edward Piechowiak Jr., 65, of Maple Heights, was arrested Thursday on aggravated murder and tampering with evidence charges, with other charges possibly pending. 

According to police, they've also recovered the weapon used in the shooting. 

Police were called to the Water's Edge Apartments near Wyoga Lake that Kevin Tiearney shared with his fiance on reports of gunshots fired on August 2nd. Tiearney was found unresponsive, transported to a local hospital, and was pronounced dead later. Piechowiak Jr. is listed as the maternal grandfather of Tiearney's child. 

This is the first homicide in Cuyahoga Falls since the 2014 stabbing death of Amanda Russell who was found outside her Eigth Street home. Her former boyfriend, Jeffrey Conrad, is currently serving a life sentence after being convicted of her murder. 

Piechowaik Jr. is being held in Summit County Jail. 

Akron Police and Fire Investigators say the man accused of setting the fire that killed a family of 7 in their home on Fultz Street in Akron back in May is suspected in two other fires, one that claimed more victims. 

Stanley Ford, 58, of Hillcrest Street, was originally charged in the May 15, 2017, fire that killed 7 members of the Boggs/Huggins family, including 5 children. In that case, Ford is charged with 1 count of aggravated arson and 7 counts of aggravated murder. On Thursday, the Deputy Chief Assistant Summit County Prosecutor Margaret Scott announced the additional aggravated arson, aggravated murder, and more charges Thursday. The additional charges are connected to another house fire on Fultz Street, just a few doors down from the May fire, that left an Akron couple dead, and a car fire. There were no injuries as a result of the car fire. In total, Ford is facing 22 counts of aggravated murder, 2 counts of aggravated arson, 1 additional count of arson, and several more charges. "Never before in Summit County history has a suspect been charged with the murders of 9 people," Scott said. 

"This is the worst crime... in the history of this city," Akron Police Chief James Nice said during the press conference, adding that he was at the scene of both house fires and witnessed the tragic nature of the crimes, calling them "horrific." 

Ford remains in Summit County Jail, awaiting his next court appearance, Wednesday, August 2nd. 

Dawud E. Spaulding of Akron, currently on death row in Ohio for killing two people and paralyzing another in a 2011 shooting, has been granted 10 more pages to present his argument for reopening his case.

The Ohio Supreme Court ruled in favor of his lawyers' request to remove the page-limitation on an appeal for a new trial. Spauling was originally set to be executed in March of 2014, but the automatic appeals process has extended that date to this point.

Now, this request for re-opening the case must not exceed 25 pages.

The 63 year old Streesboro man alleged to have shot and killed 24 year old Keith Johnson of Akron in a dispute over a dirt bike recently, has been indicted on multiple felony charges by the Summit County Grand Jury.

William Knight is charged with two counts of murder, and two counts of felonious assault, for the shooting which ocurred on March 20th. Knight is scheduled to be arraigned on the charges next Wednesday, April 19th, in Summit County Common Pleas Court.

Jeffrey Conrad of Toledo has been sentenced to life in prison for the stabbing death of his ex-girlfriend, Amanda Russell.

Russell's body was found in the backyard of her Cuyahoga Falls home back in August of 2014 by her then 14-year-old daughter. Russell, who had a protection order against him, was arrested and charged with murder. A jury found him guilty of Aggravated Murder, Felonious Assault, Violating a Protection Order, and Domestic Violence. 

In addition to the life sentence, Summit County Common Pleas Court Paul Gallagher tacked on 11 years for the assault of a fellow inmate. Conrad, remorseless in court Wednesday, wore a smile as he maintained his innocence in the murder of Russell whose body was found in her backyard. Conrad was convicted by a jury back in 2015. 

Conrad made the news during the murder trial when he chose to represent himself and then, threatened to shoot other people in the courtroom. Later he decided that he didn't want to be in the courtroom any longer and removed himself, leaving no one to represent him and the defense of his case. He was in court for sentencing, and according to the Summit County Prosecutor's Office, showed no remorse and claimed his innocence while smiling with the family of Amanda Russell present. 

Akron Police have charged 47-year-old Derrick Williams with murder in connection to his mother's death. 

Last Thursday police were called to the home of 78-year-old Alaine Williams, where she was found unresponsive by her daugther. In the 911 call, her daughter said it was her brother Derrick that killed their mother. An investigation and autopsy revealed that Alaine died of blunt-force trauma to the head. 

Police caught up with Derrick Williams over the weekend, reportedly at the home in Akron. He has been booked in Summit County Jail. 

Police say a family member has positively identified the body of missing 43-year-old Stacey Stanley as one of the bodies that was found Tuesday morning inside an abandoned home on Covert Court in Ahsland County. 

Stacey was last seen around 11 p.m. last Thursday at a BP gas station East Main and Union Streets. She had made a phone call to her brother saying that she had a flat tire, but was making her way home, but never made it. 

Early Tuesday morning, a woman called Ashland police saying that she was being held captive. Police arrived at the home on Covert Court and found that woman alive, the remains of two other women, and 40-year-old Shawn Michael Grate. Once in police custody, Grate told police that he'd killed the two woman they found at the home on Covert Court, and a third woman whose body was in Richland County. Grate told police he'd killed the woman at a home on Park Avenue East in Madison Township back in June of this year. 

Stacey's uncle says the family was called to the police station just after Tuesday night to look at photos. That was when the family positively identified Stacey. During a press conference later on Tuesday, the family of Stacey Stanley was upset with the investigation into her disappearance that was reported last Thursday night.

Grate is being held on abduction charges in Ashland County and is facing many more charges as the investigation continues.  

Police are investigating a double homicide after a mother and her son were found dead inside an Akron home late Sunday.

Officers said a 9-year-old called police to report that her mother and brother had been shot in the chest at their Hartford Avenue home. She told police her brother was dead and her mom was still alive.

Officers found the 48-year-old woman on the first floor near the staircase and the 28-year-old man was found in the upstairs bedroom. The woman was able to tell police that three men entered the house and fired multiple shots at her and her son.

The woman was taken to the hospital where she later died. The 9-year-old was not injured. The child has been placed with relatives.

No motive has been released. The victims' names are being withheld pending positive identifications and family notifications.

Family, friends, and even strangers are preparing for the upcoming charity event to honor University of Akron student Zak Husein who was killed last December in a pizza shop robbery. Student organizer Justin Cohen is teaming up with StopHungerNow to package food for those in need in honor of Husein.

The event is on April 19th -- but they're still in need of donations to make the event happen. More than $7,000 in donations have been collected, but the goal is set at $14,500 in order to package 50,000 meals for those in need.

Click here for more information on the upcoming charity event.

Previous Coverage: 

Police Still Searching For Husein's Killer

Zak Husein: A Life By Example

UPDATE VIDEO 21-Year-Old Shot, Killed In Akron

A Canton man has been arrested for allegedly murdering a missing man.

Canton Police executed a search warrant Friday night at 36 year-old Lance Levi Rankin's home on Worley Street after receiving a tip according to NewChannel 5. While searching the home, police found the missing man's body. His identity is being withheld until his family is notified.

Officers told the TV station they saw Rankin driving northbound on I-77 and attempted to stop him. The Ohio State Highway patrol came in to help by laying down road spikes. Rankin tried to swerve out of the way of the spikes and crashed into a parked police cruiser.

Police say Rankin suffered non-life threatening injuries and was taken to a hospital where he remains in custody.

The investigation is still ongoing.

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On The Web: newsnet5.com

The father of a 3 year-old Canton girl has been charged with her murder.

Canton police arrested 22 year-old Mathew Miku in the death of his 3 year-old daughter Hailey Miku.

Miku and his live-in girlfriend - 21 year-old Jessica Bender - also face child endangering charges.

Canton police Capt. Jack Angelo tells NewsChannel 5 that there were cuts and bruises to Hailey Miku...both over time, and fresh.

Mathew Miku had no prior criminal history, and is being held on $1 million bond.

A 5 year-old who is reportedly not a sibling of Hailey is in custody of Child Protective Services.

Hailey's grandparents have a GoFundMe account set up - to help pay for funeral expenses.

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Earlier coverage:

3/4/16: UPDATE Canton Police Investigate 3 Year Old Girl's Death

On the Web: WEWS NewsChannel 5, www.newsnet5.com

GoFundMe, www.gofundme.com

It's been more than two months since a 21-year-old University of Akron student was shot and killed during a pizza shop robbery in early December. But despite having more than $50,000 in reward money on the table, police haven't had a solid lead to track down Zak Husein's killer.

"Usually the money is enticing to someone who has the information, but in this case it hasn't really brought us the lead that we need," said Capt. Dan Zampelli.

Husein's family offered a $50,000 reward for information that leads to Husein's killer -- in addition to several thousand dollars offered by Summit County Crimestoppers.

"There's always that one bit of information that will get us in the right direction. We believe it's solvable, it's just a matter of finding that right piece of information that takes us on that right road."

Husein was shot even after handing over the money without incident during a robbery at his brother's Premium New York Pizza store. It was captured on surveillance video, but the masked robber couldn't be identified.

Previous Coverage: 

Zak Husein: A Life By Example

VIDEO 21-Year-Old Shot, Killed In Akron

A murder warrant has been issued for a 31-year-old man --- accused of fatally shooting a man at a house party on early Valentine's Day morning.

Police say Antoine C. Bennett should be considered armed and dangerous. His last known address was on East 97th Street in Cleveland.

Police say shots were fired at the party on North Howard Street after a fight. They say the 25 year-old victim was found inside the house shot in the chest died later at Akron City Hospital.

Another man, 25 year-old Malcolm Washington of Baird Street, flagged down police nearby and said he was shot in the foot.

The man killed hasn't yet been identified. An autopsy will be conducted by the Summit County Medical Examiner's Office.

Akron police are providing a description of Bennett, and ask for help finding him:

"Bennett is a black male, 5'10", 245 lbs. with black medium length hair, a beard and moustache. He should be considered armed and dangerous."

"Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Antoine Bennett is encouraged to call the Akron Police Department, Detective Bureau at (330) 375-2490; the U.S. Marshals Service at 1-866-4-WANTED; or the Summit County Crimestoppers Inc. at 330-434-COPS. You can also text TIPSCO with your tips to 274637 (Crimes). Callers can remain anonymous."

(Earlier coverage) A house party led to a fatal shooting in Akron on Valentine's Day.

Police tell NewsChannel 5 that they're looking for the person who shot and killed a man at a North Howard Street home around 2 a.m.

A 25-year-old flagged down police to let them know what happened and said he was also shot in the foot.

A warrant has been issued for 31-year-old Antoine C. Bennett. Police say he should be considered armed and dangerous.

Kent police say they've arrested the second teen in connection with the murder of a Kent State University student.

NewsChannel 5 reports a 17-year-old was taken into custody last (Wednesday) night and booked into the Portage County Juvenile Justice Center. He's facing a delinquency by aggravated murder charge and is being held without bond.

Another 17-year-old Stow-Monroe Falls High School student was arrested earlier this week in connection with the shooting death of 18-year-old Nicholas Massa.

On the web: www.newsnet5.com

Brock Tipping won't be getting out of jail anytime soon for murdering one woman and raping another.

Tipping was sentenced to life in prison in Summit County Common Pleas Court, and will be eligible for parole after 18 years, in the two cases - the murder of Crystal Palm and the rape of another woman.

Palm's relatives and the rape victim confronted Tipping in court.

Palm died in a fire in November 2014 on East Emerling Avenue, and was found stabbed to death.

DNA from that scene ended up connecting Tipping to a rape which happened that past October.

(Summit County Prosecutor's Office, news release) Summit County Prosecutor Sherri Bevan Walsh announced today that Summit County Common Pleas Court Judge Amy Corrigall-Jones sentenced Brock Tipping, 32, of Sanford Avenue in Akron, to Life in Prison. Tipping is eligible for parole after serving 18 years of his sentence.

On November 23, 2015, Tipping pled guilty to the following charges:

Murder – a special felony
Rape – a felony of the first degree

On November 15, 2014, crews responded to reports of a fire at a home on East Emerling Avenue in Akron. When firefighters arrived, they found the victim, 33-year-old Crystal Palm, dead. After quickly extinguishing the fire, crews determined Palm had been stabbed to death. The Summit County Medical Examiner found Palm had been stabbed eight times around the head and neck.

While investigating the murder, authorities tested DNA found at the scene. That led investigators to connect Tipping to a rape which occurred about one month earlier, on October 19, 2014.

Jeffrey Conrad has been found guilty of all counts against him in the murder of Amanda Russell, his former girlfriend, in Cuyahoga Falls.

A Summit County Common Pleas Court jury returned guilty verdicts Monday against Conrad on two aggravated murder counts, one murder count, and other counts including felonious assault, violating a protection order and domestic violence.

Russell was found stabbed to death by her teenage daughter outside her home on 8th Street in August 2014. Russell had taken out a protection order against Conrad in 2012.

It didn't take long to find Conrad, once his arrest was imminent. He'd been in police custody, charged with assaulting a park ranger in Cleveland.

The Summit County Prosecutor's Office says Conrad was not in court Monday when the verdict was read. 

His sentencing date is still pending.