Dontez Darnell Burns, a 17-year-old African American male from Akron, Ohio, tragically lost his life on February 12, 2021. Burns was found shot dead behind an apartment building in the 600 block of Clifford Avenue. The cause of death was determined to be a gunshot wound to the chest, and the manner of death was ruled as homicide.
Following Burns' death, a swift investigation led to the arrest of two suspects.
Leeric Campbell, 19, and Jaemeir Gooden, 19, both from Akron, were charged in connection with the fatal shooting. Campbell was charged with aggravated murder and other related charges, while Gooden faced charges of complicity to murder. Both suspects were taken into custody shortly after the incident.
In December 2021, Jaemeir Gooden pled guilty to involuntary manslaughter and tampering with evidence, receiving a sentence of 15 to 20.5 years in prison. Leeric Campbell was found guilty of aggravated murder and other charges in August 2022 and was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 26 years.
The tragic death of Dontez Burns and the subsequent legal proceedings have drawn significant attention to the issue of youth violence and gun crime in Akron. The community continues to mourn the loss of Burns, who was remembered as a young man with a promising future and a beloved member of his family and friends.
