Crime
Cuyahoga County Grand Jury Indicts 18-Year-Old in Fatal Shooting of Two Teens Found in Stolen Car
Police found 17-year-old Khalyn White and 16-year-old Julius Barron, both deceased from gunshot wounds to the head.
An 18-year-old Cleveland man has been indicted by a Cuyahoga County grand jury in connection with the shooting deaths of a 17-year-old and a 16-year-old, both of whom were found deceased inside a stolen vehicle with gunshot wounds to the head.
According to a news release from Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Michael O’Malley, officers responded around 1 a.m. on January 14 to reports of a stolen vehicle that had crashed into a utility pole near Warner Road and Jefferies Avenue in Cleveland.
Upon arrival, officers discovered Phoenix Brown, 18, of Cleveland, walking away from the crash site with his clothing covered in blood.
Brown attempted to flee the scene and was apprehended after a brief foot chase along Force Avenue, during which he allegedly discarded a firearm.
Authorities used a mobile fingerprint scanner to confirm his identity after he initially refused to provide it to officers.
Inside the crashed 2020 Kia Soul—reported stolen two days earlier from the area of Lee Road and Harvard Avenue—police found 17-year-old Khalyn White and 16-year-old Julius Barron, both deceased from gunshot wounds to the head.
Investigators later confirmed that a spent shell casing recovered from the vehicle matched the firearm that Brown allegedly discarded during his attempted escape.
On Thursday, Brown was formally indicted on 13 counts, including aggravated murder, murder, felonious assault, receiving stolen property, tampering with evidence, and possession of a weapon while under disability.
“The level of violence being committed by young individuals is devastating our community,” Prosecutor O’Malley stated. “We remain committed to holding violent offenders accountable, and with this indictment, my office is ensuring that justice is served.”
Brown is scheduled for arraignment on Tuesday, January 28, according to court records.
Cleveland police continue to investigate the incident, and further details may be released as the case progresses.
Chicago, IL – A shooting inside a home on the Far South Side of Chicago left a 16-year-old boy dead and two others injured on Sunday afternoon, according to police.
The incident occurred just after noon in the Pullman neighborhood, within the 13100 block of South Corliss Avenue in the Altgeld Gardens housing complex.
Authorities responded to reports of gunfire and discovered three teenage brothers suffering from multiple gunshot wounds inside the residence.
The deceased victim has been identified by his family as 16-year-old Mekhi Rodriguez, who sustained nine gunshot wounds to the torso and back.
Officers and paramedics performed CPR at the scene before transporting him to the University of Chicago Medical Center, where he was later pronounced dead.
A 17-year-old boy, who was shot eight times, was rushed to Christ Medical Center in critical condition.
An 18-year-old man, suffering a gunshot wound to the arm, was transported to the University of Chicago Medical Center, where he is listed in good condition.
According to initial investigations, an altercation inside the apartment escalated, leading to multiple gunshots being fired. Chicago Police Department (CPD) officials confirmed that a person of interest—possibly the father of the victims—is in custody.
A firearm, along with several shell casings, was recovered from the scene.
Area Two Detectives are leading the homicide investigation, and authorities have not yet disclosed additional details.
Anyone with information regarding this incident is encouraged to submit an anonymous tip at CPDTip.com or contact the Chicago Police Department’s 5th (Calumet) District at (312) 747-8210.
The investigation remains active, and further updates will be provided as more information becomes available.