Alishah Pointer, a 22-year-old woman from Cleveland, OH, tragically lost her life on November 5, 2021. The Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner determined that she died from gunshot wounds, ruling her death a homicide. Pointer was kidnapped, tortured, and ultimately shot by her attackers. Her body was discovered in a burned-out house in East Cleveland.
The investigation revealed that Pointer's attackers kidnapped two women, one of whom was forced at gunpoint to drive to Pointer's home to
lure her out. Once Pointer was kidnapped, she was taken to multiple locations where she was tortured. The attackers believed she had information about a deadly shooting that occurred in Cleveland a few days earlier. Pointer's attackers were attempting to extract this information from her.
Eight individuals were implicated in Pointer's death. Four of them have been charged with murder: Portria Williams , Destiny Henderson , Nathaniel Poke , and Hakeem-Ali Shomo . Anthony Bryant and Brittany Smith were also charged with various crimes related to the kidnapping and murder. Two other suspects, Hakeem-Ali Shomo and Anthony Bryant, remain at large.
The case has seen several developments in court. A mistrial was declared for three defendants in March 2023 due to a procedural error. The trial is set to resume, with some defendants pleading guilty to lesser charges in exchange for their testimony against the remaining co-defendants. The legal proceedings continue as authorities seek justice for Alishah Pointer's tragic death.
Pointer's twin sister, Aalyiah, has spoken out about the injustice, expressing anger and grief over the loss of her sister. The community has also held vigils and called for justice for Pointer.
The investigation remains ongoing, with law enforcement continuing to search for the remaining suspects and gather evidence to hold all those responsible accountable.
