Jason Lamont Bradford, a 46-year-old African American man from Akron, Ohio, tragically died on April 16, 2018. Bradford was fatally injured during an altercation in the 800 block of East Exchange Street in Akron's Middlebury neighborhood. According to reports, he was struck in the head with a brick by DeMarcus L. Shealy, 27, and then shot by Lavon Rankin, 24.
Bradford succumbed to his injuries as a result of the attack.
Following Bradford's death, law enforcement authorities launched an investigation that led to the arrest of three individuals: DeMarcus L. Shealy, Lavon Rankin, and Samantha Lamp. Shealy was charged with murder, felonious assault, and obstructing justice, while Rankin faced charges of voluntary manslaughter and other offenses. Lamp was charged with obstructing justice.
In December 2018, Lavon Rankin pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter and received a 20-year prison sentence. Samantha Lamp also pleaded guilty to obstructing justice and was sentenced to three years of probation. DeMarcus Shealy initially pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter, felonious assault, and obstructing justice, but later withdrew his plea and went to trial. In April 2019, Shealy was found guilty of murder and sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 27 years.
The case caused significant heartache for both Bradford's family and the families of the accused. The legal proceedings were complex, with various plea deals and trial outcomes. Ultimately, justice was served, but the loss of Jason Lamont Bradford left a lasting impact on his loved ones and the community.
