Antwoina Carter, a 26-year-old Black woman from Cleveland, Ohio, was a home health aide and a devoted mother to five children, who ranged in age from seven months to 11 years old. Her family described her as a "firecracker" with a witty, loud, and funny personality. They remembered her love for cooking, listening to music, spending time with family, and sitting by the lake.
In the early morning hours of March 17, 2024, a chaotic and tragic series of events unfolded in Cleveland's
Glenville neighborhood. Hours after calling 911 to report a disturbance at her home, Carter was driving on East 105th Street near Garfield Avenue around 4:30 a.m. Another vehicle, driven by 19-year-old Trinity Ford, was also on the street. After Carter passed Ford's car and stopped, a rear passenger in Ford’s car, Christopher Stinson, fired at least 20 shots into the back of Carter's vehicle. Cleveland police officers, who were already in the area responding to an earlier call at Carter's residence, heard the gunfire as the two cars sped past and returned fire. Carter's car turned onto Garfield Avenue, struck a police cruiser, and crashed. The other vehicle fled.
Officers found Carter outside of her crashed car and rendered aid until she was transported to a local hospital, where she was pronounced dead. The Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner’s Office ruled her death a homicide, caused by a gunshot wound to the trunk that resulted in injuries to her heart, lungs, and spine. Investigators confirmed that the fatal bullet was not fired from a police weapon.
The investigation, led by the Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Department, relied on video evidence to identify the three occupants of the suspect vehicle. In late March, police arrested Trinity Ford, who was initially charged with obstructing justice before being indicted for murder. In April, authorities arrested her passengers: 18-year-old Christopher Stinson and 20-year-old Lashuwndre Coleman.
All three defendants later entered guilty pleas for their roles in the homicide. Lashuwndre Coleman pleaded guilty and was sentenced to one year of probation. On January 23, 2025, Christopher Stinson pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter, felonious assault, and discharge of a firearm on or near prohibited premises. He was sentenced to serve 27 to 32.5 years in prison.
Trinity Ford pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter on January 9, 2025. She later attempted to withdraw her plea, but a judge denied her motion. As of March 2025, she was awaiting sentencing.
