On the evening of May 1, 2016, 48-year-old Black female Sonia Freeman and her 28-year-old son, Christopher Lane-Freeman, were fatally shot in their home on Hartford Avenue in Akron, Ohio. The tragic incident was reported by Sonia Freeman's 9-year-old daughter, who courageously called 911 after being awakened by her mother's screams.
According to police reports, three intruders entered the residence around 10:00 p.m.
During the robbery, Christopher Lane-Freeman was shot multiple times in an upstairs bedroom and pronounced dead at the scene. Sonia Freeman was found near the stairs with a single gunshot wound to the abdomen and later died at Akron General Hospital.
Investigations led to the arrest of two suspects. Jaysaun Holley, who was 16 years old at the time of the crime, was charged and later sentenced to 25 years in prison after pleading guilty to two counts of involuntary manslaughter and one count of aggravated burglary.
The second suspect, Shaquille Anderson, was 26 years old at the time of the crime. He was found guilty of multiple charges, including two counts of aggravated murder, and was sentenced to four consecutive life terms without the possibility of parole, plus an additional 98 years in prison.
The loss of 48-year-old Black female Sonia Freeman and her son deeply affected the Akron community. Sonia Freeman was remembered for her compassion and involvement in her church, while Christopher Lane-Freeman was a valued employee at the Akron Art Museum.
