The U.S. Marshals Service arrested three men accused of fatally beating a 17-year-old high Ethan Liming outside the high school founded by LeBron James.
The three men beat Liming to death and later bragged about it to friends.
Via Jack Posobiec
Here is the statement by the US Marshals Service.
Three Suspects Arrested by Akron Police and U.S. Marshals for Fatal Beating of Akron Teen
Akron, OH – This morning, members of the U.S. Marshals Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force arrested Deshawn Stafford Jr., 20 yrs, Tyler Stafford, 19 yrs, and Donovon Jones, 21 yrs. The three are wanted by the Akron Police Department for the fatal beating of Ethan Liming, 17 yrs, outside the I Promise School in Akron on June 2, 2022.
Members of the Akron Police Department were able to identify the suspects and warrants were issued for homicide. Akron Police and the U.S. Marshals worked together to locate and arrest Deshawn and Tyler Stafford at a residence located on the 500 block of North Howard Street in Akron. Jones was arrested at a residence located on the 200 block of Crosby Street in Akron.
“Ethan’s senseless and tragic death has touched every person in our community,” said Akron Mayor Dan Horrigan. “These arrests would not have been possible without the dedication of our Akron Police Department and their collaboration with the U.S. Marshals Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force. They have worked around the clock on this case and I thank them for their tireless efforts. My thoughts and prayers remain with the entire Liming family at this time.”
Akron Police Chief Stephen Mylett added, “I am happy to report that today, officers with the Akron Police Department, made several arrests in connection with the death of Ethan Liming. We thank the members of the community for their outpouring of support that helped investigators throughout this investigation. We will continue to follow any leads that will result in bringing those responsible for Ethan’s death to justice. While I believe the news of the arrests will be welcomed by Ethan’s family and loved ones, we all recognize that nothing will bring Ethan back. Violence in this country must stop. We are losing too many lives to senseless acts of violence.”
U.S. Marshal Pete Elliott stated, “The U.S. Marshals Service will continue to provide all necessary resources to help our partners at the Akron Police Department to combat violent crime. This crime impacted an entire community and we stand alongside the community in seeking justice for Ethan.”
But now there is more information coming out on Ethan’s death.
Ethan Liming, whose father is a pastor, tried to calm the situation in the parking lot when he got jumped and hit in the head from behind.
Beacon Journal reported:
Bill Liming, Ethan’s father, said his son and three friends, one white and two Black, went to the I Promise School on West Market Street to meet that night and figure out what they were going to do together. Bill Liming is lead pastor at Montrose Zion United Methodist Church.
The group of friends ran into three other young males and a young female and an altercation broke out. His father said it began as “horseplay” but escalated, with his son being drawn into it. He declined to say what the horseplay might have involved, saying he has heard conflicting information.
“Teenagers were being teenagers,” he said. “I don’t want to say too much about the investigation. But apparently some of his friends who were with him were fooling around in the parking lot and some other people didn’t like it.”
Ethan and a friend were sitting in a car at the time and thought what was going on was still horseplay, his father said.
“When he got out of the car and told people to relax, it’s a joke, it’s a joke, and the individuals didn’t like that. One individual attacked him,” he said.
A second individual came up from behind and hit Ethan in the head, his father said.
“He was fighting back for his life,” he said. “A third individual came up behind him and overwhelmed him. And they knocked him out on the ground. His friends tried to help him.”
The friends unsuccessfully tried to drive the other group away and called 911. And then the group came back to Ethan “and finished my son off,” Bill Liming said.
“My son Ethan Liming was murdered by three African American males and a female who stood by and did nothing,” Bill Liming said. He said he believed the four people were young adults, not teens.
And from the police report, we know the suspects took Liming’s car and prevented his friends from driving him to the hospital. Liming was later pronounced dead in the parking lot.
Via Jack Posobiec.