On May 26, 2024, around 3 a.m., a tragic shooting incident occurred near St. Clair Avenue and East 13th Street in Cleveland, Ohio. The incident resulted in the death of two individuals, including 24-year-old De'Andre Smith, and left two others injured.
The shooting took place outside the Medusa Nightclub, where a group of people were standing. An altercation broke out, leading to multiple shots being fired.
De'Andre Smith and Ta'Von Thompson, 28, were fatally shot, while a 26-year-old female and a 19-year-old male were also injured in the incident. Emergency services responded to the scene, and all four victims were transported to a nearby hospital. Unfortunately, Smith and Thompson were later pronounced deceased.
Following an investigation by the Cleveland Division of Police (CDP), three suspects were identified: Mark Hardy, 27, Kenneth Patterson, 23, and Da'Karai Johnson, 27. The investigation revealed that Hardy and Patterson were responsible for shooting Smith and Thompson, while Johnson shot the two other victims.
On June 6, 2024, Cleveland Police Chief Annie Todd announced the arrest of Hardy and Johnson. Patterson had fled to Tennessee and was apprehended by the Tennessee Highway Patrol on June 12, 2024.
On June 14, 2024, a Cuyahoga County grand jury returned indictments against the three suspects. Mark Hardy and Kenneth Patterson were each charged with three counts of murder and two counts of felonious assault. Da'Karai Johnson was indicted on four counts of felonious assault.
Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Michael C. O'Malley condemned the act as a "senseless act of gun violence" and expressed relief that no one else was harmed in the incident, given that over a dozen people were in the immediate area during the shooting.
The suspects are scheduled to be arraigned at the Cuyahoga County Justice Center at a later date. The case has shocked the community, highlighting the devastating impact of gun violence in the area.
