Anthony Stanford II, a 27-year-old African American man from Cleveland, OH, tragically died on December 8, 2016. Stanford was fatally shot during a dinner party hosted by his friend, Steven Leannais, at Leannais' apartment. The incident occurred after Leannais live-streamed the party on Facebook Live, during which he and another guest were seen playing with a handgun and joking about whether the gun was loaded.
Despite Leannais' assurances that the gun was not loaded, there was still one
bullet left in the chamber. After the video ended, Leannais picked up the gun and pulled the trigger, unaware that the chamber still contained a bullet. The bullet struck Stanford in the upper abdomen, and he was rushed to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead an hour later.
Steven Leannais, a 30-year-old man, was charged with third-degree felony involuntary manslaughter in connection with Stanford's death. Leannais' blood alcohol content was tested at 0.058, indicating that he was legally impaired at the time of the shooting. Leannais' defense attorney stated that his client was distraught and extremely sorry for the tragic accident.
The case drew significant media attention due to the circumstances of the shooting and the fact that it was captured on a live video stream. Leannais faced Cleveland Municipal Court, where his bond was set at $10,000. He agreed to surrender any guns in his possession and his concealed carry license. The incident highlighted the dangers of handling firearms while under the influence of alcohol.
Stanford, who worked as a building maintenance worker and trained aspiring young boxers, was remembered fondly by his family and friends. His mother, Trina Ford, expressed her grief and emphasized that "guns and alcohol don't mix". Leannais, who expressed a desire to trade places with Stanford, faced legal consequences and the emotional burden of having accidentally caused his friend's death.
