Raymond L. Cleveland Jr., a 32-year-old Black man from Akron, Ohio, was described as a person who left behind memories cherished by his community. His life was tragically cut short on the evening of Sunday, May 5, 2024, when he was caught in a burst of gunfire.
The incident occurred at a residence in the 800 block of Johnston Street. According to police, a car drove by the building and a suspect inside the vehicle fired multiple shots toward a group of people outside.
Cleveland was struck by the gunfire and was transported to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Two other men, both 30 years old, also suffered non-life-threatening gunshot wounds in the same attack. They transported themselves to the hospital for treatment.
When police arrived at the scene, they found that dozens of patrons and bystanders had fled in the immediate aftermath of the shooting. Investigators collected evidence from the area, including liquor bottles and cases of beer, as they began to piece together the events of that evening.
The Akron Police Department launched a homicide investigation, but the person who fired the shots has not been found. As of January 2025, the shooter had not been identified, and the case remains unsolved. Authorities ask that anyone with information call the Akron Police at 330-375-2490.
