Suspects avoid murder charges in indictment for allegedly beating Ohio teenager to death

Three suspects, accused of beating Ethan Liming, 17, of Akron, Ohio, to death, have avoided murder charges as part of a grand jury indictment.

As Breitbart News reported, Liming was beaten to death on June 2 in a parking lot at the I Promise School in Akron, founded by NBA player LeBron James.

Subsequently, Deshawn Stafford Jr., 20, Tyler Stafford, 19, and Donovon Jones, 21, were arrested in Liming’s death and initially charged with murder to which all pleaded not guilty.

A grand jury indictment forwarded less serious charges to the three suspects.

DeShawn Stafford was charged with two counts of manslaughter and one count of aggravated assault, while Tyler Stafford was charged with one count of manslaughter and assault. Jones was charged with two counts of assault.

“They feel like they were victimized when their son was murdered and they are being victimized again by the system,” Liming family attorney Mike Callahan said. Akron Beacon Log. “They are angry and frustrated. It is very difficult for them. »

On the night of June 2, Liming was in a vehicle with four other teenagers. According to police reports, the group was driving around shooting a SPLATRBALL Water Bead Blaster outside of the vehicle.

Eventually, the group pulled up to the I Promise School basketball court and began firing the soft water gel gun, sparking an altercation with the group on the court, police say. .

A fight ensued between the two groups and it was at this point that police said the Stafford and Jones brothers beat Liming unconscious. Even after losing consciousness, police said the three suspects continued to stomp and kick Liming in the head.

The Stafford brothers allegedly drove Liming’s car away from the scene as Liming’s friends tried to get him to a nearby hospital. Meanwhile, Jones took the cellphone of one of Limings’ friends as they tried to call 911. When police arrived on the scene, Liming was unresponsive.

The three suspects are each being held in Summit County Jail on $1 million bail.

John Binder is a reporter for Breitbart News. Email him at jbinder@breitbart.com. Follow him on Twitter here.