Crime
Tania Mangual and 12-Year-Old Son Killed in Akron Shooting, Suspect Brandon Casto in Custody
AKRON, Ohio — A man is in custody following a tragic shooting Saturday evening that left a mother and her 12-year-old son dead in Akron, according to police.
Officers with the Akron Police Department responded at approximately 8:10 p.m. to reports of gunfire in the area of 30 West Wilbeth Road.
Dispatchers received multiple 911 calls, including one from a 49-year-old woman who reported she had been shot but managed to flee the scene.
She later provided investigators with critical information that helped identify the suspect as 28-year-old Brandon T. Casto.
Responding officers soon located a vehicle that had crashed into a tree line on Hemlock Street, just south of West Wilbeth Road.
The vehicle was partially engulfed in flames when authorities arrived.
Inside the car, officers discovered a 12-year-old boy, later identified as Jericho, suffering from a gunshot wound.
He was pronounced dead at the scene at approximately 8:34 p.m.
The driver of the vehicle, 47-year-old Tania Mangual, Jericho’s mother, had also sustained a gunshot wound.
She was transported to Cleveland Clinic Akron General Medical Center, where she later succumbed to her injuries at approximately 8:50 p.m.
A 2-year-old child, also Mangual’s son, was found inside the vehicle but was not physically injured. He was transported to Akron Children’s Hospital as a precaution.
The Summit County Medical Examiner’s Office stated that further details will be released following notification of next of kin and completion of autopsy examinations.
As part of the investigation, Akron Police Major Crimes Unit detectives executed a search warrant at an apartment associated with the suspect, where they recovered multiple firearms, firearm accessories, and a significant quantity of ammunition.
Investigators later learned that Casto had indicated to acquaintances that he intended to flee the Akron area.
Law enforcement coordinated with the Meigs County Sheriff’s Office, and Casto ultimately turned himself in to authorities.
He is currently being held at the Southeast Regional Jail in Nelsonville and faces two counts of aggravated murder and two counts of felonious assault.
Akron Police Chief Brian Harding described the incident as a devastating act of violence that has deeply impacted the community:
“This senseless act of violence left a mother and her 12-year-old son dead and has profoundly affected our community. These are among the most difficult calls our officers face. I commend our officers for their coordinated response and dedication, which led to the swift identification and apprehension of the suspect. Our detectives worked diligently to develop leads, secure critical evidence, and collaborate with partner agencies to bring the suspect into custody. We will continue working with the Summit County Prosecutor’s Office to ensure accountability for violent crimes in our community.”
Akron Mayor Shammas Malik also expressed his condolences, stating:
“I am heartbroken by the tragic loss of a 47-year-old woman and her 12-year-old son in this devastating act of violence. My thoughts are with their loved ones during this unimaginable time, and I am grateful that the young child present was not physically harmed. I thank our Akron Fire and Police personnel for their swift response and initial investigative efforts. We must continue to confront violence head-on and ensure justice for victims.”
The Akron Police Department’s Major Crimes Unit continues to investigate the circumstances surrounding the shooting.
Authorities are urging anyone with information to contact the Akron Police Detective Bureau at 330-375-2490 or 330-375-2TIP.
Crime
Angela Johnson and Her Son DeAngelo Johnson Killed After Shooting Inside Home in Chicago, Mother’s Boyfriend in Custody
CHICAGO — A 47-year-old mother and her 27-year-old son were fatally shot inside a residence in Chicago’s Austin neighborhood on the West Side late Thursday night, September 24, 2026, according to Chicago police.
The victims were identified as Angela Johnson, 47, and DeAngelo Johnson, 27. Police said a suspect, identified as Angela Johnson’s boyfriend, was taken into custody following the shooting.
The deadly shooting happened in the 800 block of North Parkside Avenue at approximately 10:43 p.m. Witnesses reported hearing gunshots coming from the basement of the residence and called 911.
When Chicago police officers arrived, they found the two victims suffering from gunshot wounds.
Angela Johnson was found in the basement with a gunshot wound to her chest. Police-radio traffic indicated she had been shot on the right side of her chest.
DeAngelo Johnson was found on the first floor with multiple gunshot wounds. Radio traffic indicated that he had suffered two gunshot wounds to his back.
Both victims were initially unresponsive and in critical condition. Emergency personnel performed CPR on DeAngelo Johnson before both victims were transported to Mount Sinai Hospital, where they were pronounced dead.
According to police-radio traffic, one victim was pronounced dead at approximately 11:18 p.m., while the male victim was pronounced dead around 11:21 p.m.
Investigators found extensive evidence inside the residence, including approximately 23 shell casings in a basement bedroom. Additional shell casings were reportedly recovered in other areas of the basement, including the stairway, main room and bedroom.
Officers initially recovered a firearm and shell casings from the basement bedroom. Police later located a second firearm inside the home, bringing the total number of recovered firearms to two.
Authorities have not publicly stated who owned the firearms or confirmed which weapon, if either, was used in the fatal shooting.
Police also reported that DeAngelo Johnson was wearing an empty holster when officers found him on the first floor. That discovery prompted an officer-safety alert as officers searched the residence for the missing firearm.
Chicago police said the shooting appeared to be domestic-related and identified the alleged offender as the mother’s boyfriend.
Radio traffic indicated that a person had been detained by approximately 11:26 p.m. The official police report later confirmed that the known offender was taken into custody.
Two witnesses were reportedly available to identify the alleged offender, and officers conducted a show-up identification procedure near the scene.
Police have not released additional information about potential charges against the suspect.
The investigation into the Chicago Austin neighborhood double shooting remains ongoing. Detectives are continuing to examine the circumstances that led to the shooting, the relationship between the people involved and the role of the two recovered firearms.
The deaths of Angela Johnson and DeAngelo Johnson are being investigated as a double homicide.