Takeyra Collins, a 25-year-old woman from Cleveland, OH, tragically lost her life on July 9, 2019. She was one of four victims in a horrific quadruple homicide that occurred in Cleveland's Slavic Village neighborhood. The other victims included David Cousin Jr., 35, and two children, Armond Johnson Jr., 6, and Aubree Stone, 2. The deaths of all four individuals were ruled as homicides by the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner's Office.
The investigation revealed that Takeyra Collins was
found dead inside her residence with multiple gunshot wounds. The house was also set on fire, leading to the deaths of her two young children from smoke inhalation. A 35-year-old man, David Cousin Jr., was found shot to death in a nearby vacant lot. The crime scene showed evidence of arson, including the discovery of accelerants.
Cleveland police arrested Armond Johnson, 29, in connection with the murders. Johnson was later found guilty on multiple charges, including 14 counts of aggravated murder, three counts of arson, two counts of endangering children, one count of kidnapping, and one count of tampering with evidence. In October 2022, he was sentenced to four consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole.
The case was particularly tragic as it involved the murder of Johnson's own son, Armond Johnson Jr. The court determined that Johnson should not face the death penalty, citing that the aggravated circumstances did not outweigh the mitigating factors beyond a reasonable doubt. Despite the heinous nature of the crime, Johnson received life sentences for his actions.
The Slavic Village community was deeply affected by the loss of these four individuals, and the case remains a somber reminder of the impact of violence on families and neighborhoods.
