Alex D. Tabler was a beloved son, brother, and friend whose family said he was a shining light in their lives. The 27-year-old Black man from Akron, Ohio, was an identical twin, a track star in high school, and a talented licensed barber. He loved to draw, write poems and songs, and read. Known as the life of the party, Alex was remembered for his love of dancing, dressing well, and being around his family and friends.
In the early morning of January 15, 2021, a large gathering was
underway at a home in the 600 block of Sherman Street in Akron. Some attendees were reportedly filming a rap video. At about 3:30 a.m., an argument broke out between Alex and a woman at the party. The woman, who was armed with a revolver and an assault weapon, shot Alex. Emergency responders rushed him to Cleveland Clinic Akron General, but he died from gunshot wounds to his torso at 3:59 a.m.
The shooter fled the scene after the attack. Akron police detectives began an investigation, but an assistant prosecutor later noted that witnesses were not cooperative. The suspect was eventually identified as Savanna Brice, who was 19 at the time. She was arrested in May 2021 and initially charged with murder and felonious assault, among other offenses.
In February 2022, Brice, then 20, accepted a plea agreement. She pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter with a firearm specification, and to having a weapon under disability, which meant she was legally prohibited from possessing a gun due to a previous conviction. In exchange for her plea, prosecutors agreed to dismiss the murder charges and several other counts against her.
On March 1, 2022, Summit County Common Pleas Court Judge Kathryn Michael sentenced Savanna Brice to a term of 10 to 13.5 years in prison. During the emotional sentencing hearing, Alex’s identical twin brother spoke of the profound suffering his family endured. Brice, who had a young son, said she had a rough childhood and got hooked on drugs at a young age. Wiping away tears, she told the court she hated herself for her actions and hoped Alex’s family could one day forgive her. The case was closed as of March 2022.
