Five Akron males charged in April gunfight that fatally wounded pregnant woman
Five young Akron males, one only 16, have now been charged in an April gunfight in which a pregnant woman was fatally wounded in the crossfire.
Two of the males pleaded not guilty to numerous felony charges, including murder and felonious assault, during arraignments this week in Summit County Common Pleas Court. Two others previously were arraigned and another man has a warrant for his arrest.
The males are charged in connection with an April 14 incident in the 1400 block of Rockaway Street in Akron’s Kenmore neighborhood, just south of Interstates 76/77 and west of Manchester Road.
Police said a gunfight broke out about 7:30 p.m. when someone got out of a Chevrolet Impala and started shooting at people in front of a home. Two males in the group fired back.
Two women wounded in gunfight, one fatally
Teyaurra Harris was struck in the head by a bullet that went through the rear window of the car in which she was riding. Harris, 21, of Akron, was taken to Cleveland Clinic Akron General, where she died four days later.
More:Pregnant Akron woman caught in the crossfire of gun fight dies
The driver of the car wasn’t harmed. A 19-year-old woman who was in the area also was hit by gunfire and had non-life-threatening injuries.
Police said they found casings from three different caliber firearms at the scene. They said at least 30 rounds were fired.
Five males face numerous felonies
The five males charged in the shooting face multiple felony offenses.
They are:
Antonil Whitaker,16, who was bound over from Summit County Juvenile Court to be tried as an adult. He pleaded not guilty during his arraignment Wednesday to murder, six counts of felonious assault, all with gun specifications that carry with them additional time, as well as discharge of a firearm on or near a prohibited premises and tampering with evidence. Attorney Jake Will is representing him.
Jeremiah Williams, 21. He pleaded not guilty Wednesday during his arraignment to murder, six counts of felonious assault, all with gun specifications, and discharge of a firearm on or near a prohibited premises. Jeff Laybourne is his attorney.
Jaunte Smith, 18. He was originally charged with two counts of murder, but one of the charges was modified to aggravated assault and the other was dismissed. He also faces two counts of felonious assault and one count each of discharge of a firearm on or near prohibited premises, carrying a concealed weapon and improperly handing firearms in a motor vehicle. He has pleaded not guilty. Kerry O’Brien is his attorney.
Jaeviaire Small, 20. He is charged with two counts of felonious assault with gun specifications and one count each of discharge of a firearm on or near a prohibited premises, carrying a concealed weapon and having weapons while under disability. This charge mean a person was prohibited from having a firearm because of a prior conviction. He has a warrant for his arrest. Donald Walker is representing him.
Zyeir Saunders, 21. He is charged with six counts of felonious assault with firearm specifications and one count of discharge of a firearm on or near a prohibited premises. He has pleaded not guilty. He has a final pretrial set for Dec. 9 and a trial scheduled for Jan. 30. Erik Jones is his attorney.
Judge Alison McCarty is handling all five cases.
Stephanie Warsmith can be reached at swarsmith@thebeaconjournal.com, 330-996-3705 and on Twitter: @swarsmithabj.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Five males face charges in gunfight that fatally wounded pregnant woman
