Three men have been arrested in connection with the murder of a teenager outside Ohio High School founded by LeBron James in early June, federal authorities announced Saturday.
Ethan Liming, 17, was found beaten to death on June 2 in the parking lot of I Promise School in Akron.
In a press release, the U.S. Marshals Service revealed that the federal Ohio North American group of violent fugitives and Akron police arrested Deshawn Stafford Jr. on Saturday morning. 20-year-old Tyler Stafford, 19, and Donovon Jones, 21, in two different residential buildings in Akron.
Liming was brutally beaten to death around 10:46 p.m., June 2. Authorities have said the teenager died of a severe head injury after driving with his friends and shooting people with a water pistol.
Liming was lying on the ground in the parking lot when police arrived, officials said. They could not save him and he was pronounced dead at the scene.
Police said at least one occupant of the Liming vehicle was “firing a SPLATRBALL Water Bead Blaster” at potential unsuspecting people who led the incident. Akron Police Department
“I am pleased to report that today, Akron police department officers made several arrests in connection with the death of Ethan Liming. We thank members of the community for their support in assisting the investigators during this investigation.” , Akron police chief Stephen Mylett said in a press release.
“While I believe the news of the arrests will be welcomed by Ethan’s family and loved ones, we all acknowledge that nothing will return to Ethan,” he added. “Violence in this country must stop. We are losing too many lives for meaningless acts of violence.”
Akron Mayor Dan Horrigan said Liming’s “tragic and senseless death has affected everyone in our community.”
Bottom left: Tyler Stafford, Donovan Jones and Deshawn Stafford Jr. they were arrested in connection with the murder. United States Marshals Service
“My thoughts and prayers remain with the entire Liming family right now,” he said.
“This crime affected an entire community and we stand by the community in seeking justice for Ethan,” said U.S. Marshal Pete Elliott in a statement.
Police said that “in the moments leading up to the incident, one or more occupants in the [Liming]The vehicle was traveling around firing a SPLATRBALL Water Bead Blaster at objects and possibly unsuspecting people, “according to a statement quoted by Fox News.
They then drove to the basketball courts, where the group of teenagers “aimed or approached the subjects on the court and shot them with the soft ice pistol,” in an incident that appears to have caused the killers.
Police on Thursday offered a reward of up to $ 30,000 for information leading to the arrest of the Liming killers, according to a local report.
Liming’s father, Bill, told Fox News in a story published Friday that his son was a loving and charitable person with a “bright future” ahead. Liming’s father said his son planned to become a lawyer.