Malachia Perez Stewart III, a 35-year-old male, was tragically killed in a shooting on July 14, 2018, in Cleveland, Ohio. The incident occurred on Interstate 90 at the West 117th Street exit ramp, where Stewart III and another victim, Andre Williams, were sitting in a car when they were shot. Both men suffered gunshot wounds to the head and body. A third victim, a 24-year-old woman, was also injured in the attack, sustaining a bullet graze to her stomach while she was stopped at the
off-ramp.
Authorities identified Gianni A. Gray as the suspect in the fatal shooting. An arrest warrant was issued for Gray, charging him with aggravated murder. Gray had a history of criminal activity, including prior convictions for carrying concealed weapons, having weapons under disability, and drug trafficking. He had previously served a five-year prison sentence starting in 2009. At the time of the shooting, Gray was under parole supervision.
Following the attack, Gray evaded law enforcement for nearly two years. The U.S. Marshals' Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force, in collaboration with the Cleveland Police and Cuyahoga County Sheriff's Office, pursued leads across multiple states, including Florida and Michigan. Eventually, Gray was located and arrested at a residence near 121st Street and Union Avenue in Cleveland. During his arrest, authorities recovered three firearms, including a machine gun. Additionally, Rodney Blane Harper, an associate of Gray, was taken into custody for parole violations.
Investigators also noted that Gray was a suspect in a separate double shooting in Florida from 2015. His extensive criminal history and repeated offenses underscored the severity of his actions. The Cleveland Police Department's Homicide Unit continued to investigate the case, urging anyone with additional information to come forward.
