Imani Warren Tolbert Sr., an 18-year-old male of African American ethnicity, tragically passed away on March 11, 2021, in Akron, Ohio. He was a former student of the I-Promise School and S.W.A.G.—Students With A Goal, and was scheduled to graduate from Cascade Career Prep High School in June of that year. Tolbert was known for his vibrant personality and positive spirit, and he left behind a young son, Imani Warren Tolbert Jr.
The circumstances surrounding Tolbert's death involved a
fatal shooting. On the night of March 11, 2021, police responded to a call about a shooting at an apartment complex on Boulevard Street in Akron. They found Tolbert with a gunshot wound and pronounced him dead at the scene. An extensive investigation followed, which included numerous interviews and the identification of a 16-year-old girl as a person of interest. This girl, who was believed to have been dating Tolbert, was charged with murder and felonious assault. She was held at the Summit County Juvenile Detention Center while authorities determined whether her case would be heard in juvenile or adult court.
Tolbert's family and friends have continued to seek justice for his death. His father, Emmett Tolbert III, expressed his belief that the girl charged was responsible for his son's death, describing her as jealous and unable to accept that Tolbert could be with anyone else. The community has remembered Tolbert through various tributes, including a horse-drawn carriage procession during his funeral and gatherings to honor his memory.
The loss of Imani Warren Tolbert Sr. has deeply affected his family, friends, and the community, who continue to remember him as a beloved and respected individual.
