On January 9, 2023, 15-year-old DeAsia Green was found deceased in an alley near the 1300 block of Page Street in north Toledo, Ohio. Her family had reported her missing on January 5 after she failed to return home and communicated only through text messages, refusing to disclose her whereabouts. DeAsia was a freshman at Start High School and a member of Young Men and Women For Change. Tragically, her father, DeAndre Green, was also a victim of gun violence, having been shot and killed in 2010.
Following an investigation, a 15-year-old male suspect was arrested on January 13, 2023, and charged with murder and felonious assault, both with gun specifications, in connection with DeAsia's death. Due to his status as a juvenile, authorities did not initially disclose his identity. The suspect was arraigned at the Lucas County Juvenile Justice Center, where his attorney denied the charges. DeAsia's stepfather expressed a desire for the suspect to be tried as an adult to set an example and address youth gun violence in the community.
On January 12, 2024, the suspect, identified as 16-year-old Joshua Coleman, entered a guilty plea to a murder charge. He was subsequently sentenced to 15 years to life in prison, with the possibility of parole after 15 years. During the court proceedings, it was revealed that Coleman and DeAsia had been acquainted and had spent time together after she left her home. The motive for the shooting remains unclear. DeAsia's mother, Teairia Hill, delivered an emotional victim impact statement, describing her daughter as a "social butterfly" and emphasizing the profound impact of her loss on their family.
The tragic deaths of both DeAsia and her father, DeAndre, underscore the devastating effects of gun violence on families and communities. While DeAsia's case has seen a resolution through the legal system, her father's 2010 murder remains unsolved, leaving the family with enduring grief and unanswered questions.
