UPDATE: Ohio Teen Na’kia Crawford Shot While Running Errands With Her Grandmother
Na’kia Crawford “deserves justice,” Akron’s mayor says of the “senseless” killing.
Na'kia Crawford [Ben Crump Twitter]
UPDATE 6/18/20 4:59 PM ET:
Just this afternoon Akron Police Chief Deputy Jesse Lesser revealed in a press conference that the death of Na'kia Crawford was a tragic case of mistaken identity, and that she "was in the wrong place at the wrong time."
WKYC reports that warrants have been issued for 17-year-old Adarus Black, 18-year-old Jaion Bivins, and 24-year-old Janisha George.
Read more: WKYC
ORIGINAL POST 6/18/20 11:59 AM ET:
Police are searching for whoever is responsible for the Sunday afternoon fatal shooting of an Ohio woman who was running errands with her grandmother near downtown Akron.
Na’kia Crawford, 18, was driving her Chevrolet Malibu at around 1:25 p.m. when witnesses said she stopped the car at a red light, Cleveland.com reported.
An unknown person or persons in a newer black sports car with tinted windows pulled up behind Crawford, rolled around to the driver’s side of her vehicle and unleashed a barrage of bullets.
Crawford was hit in the attack and rushed to Summa Akron City Hospital, where she died nearly 12 hours later. Her grandmother was unharmed in the shooting.
Crawford’s loved ones have now retained national civil rights and personal injury attorney Ben Crump, who also currently represents the family of George Floyd.
“We stand with the family of this young woman in demanding answers from the Akron Police Department,” Crump said in a statement on June 17. “We are committed to making sure police devote the necessary time and resources to identify the killer and get justice for her family.”
During a news conference this week, CNN reported, Akron police Deputy Chief Jesse Leeser noted detectives “have devoted hundreds of man hours to this crime already” and “will continue to do so.”
Crawford, a recent high school graduate, had been preparing to attend classes at Central State University in Wilberforce, Ohio.
“Her senseless killing has rightfully impacted each and every one of us in a very personal way,” Akron Mayor Dan Horrigan said at the news conference, according to Cleveland.com.
He added: “Now, because of a tragic act, incomprehensible violence, the future she dreamed of was stolen from her, and she deserves justice.”
Summit County Crimestoppers is now offering a reward of up to $50,000 for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of whoever is responsible for Crawford’s death.
Anyone with information is asked to call Akron police detectives at 330-375-2490 or Summit County Crimestoppers at 330-434-2677.
