Levell Saunders, a 34-year-old Black man from Toledo, Ohio, lost his life in a shooting on April 16, 2023. He was driving a car in West Toledo, near the intersection of Jackman Road and Central Avenue, when he was struck by gunfire. A passenger in the vehicle, 32-year-old Taneta Waterford, was also involved in the incident. The Lucas County Coroner’s Office later confirmed that Mr.
Saunders died from the gunshot wounds he sustained.
The Toledo Police Department immediately began a homicide investigation. Their work led to an arrest just five days later. On April 21, 2023, authorities took 30-year-old Alton Reid Jr., a resident of the 1500 block of Oakwood Avenue, into custody. Reid was initially charged with murder in connection with the death of Mr. Saunders.
As the case moved through the court system, prosecutors revealed that they believed the shooting was gang-related and carried out as an act of retaliation. The legal proceedings continued for over a year, culminating in a plea agreement in late 2024.
On November 26, 2024, Reid, by then 31 years old, entered a no-contest plea to a charge of manslaughter for his role in the shooting of Levell Saunders and Taneta Waterford. Less than a month later, on December 18, Judge Linda Jennings handed down his sentence. Alton Reid was ordered to serve at least 20 years in prison, bringing the case to a close as of December 2024.
