On the morning of December 14, 2024, Rakeem Jones, a 23-year-old resident of Lima, Ohio, was found fatally shot in Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Center Park. Lima Police Department officers responded to a report of a man down around 10 a.m. and discovered Jones suffering from multiple gunshot wounds; he was pronounced dead at the scene.
Rakeem Jones was born on July 19, 2001, in Lima to Joe Young and Jaquta D. Jones. He was employed at Procter & Gamble in Lima and was a member of Grace Church Worldwide Ministries. He is survived by his parents, three brothers, four sisters, and other family members. His funeral services were scheduled for December 28, 2024, at Grace Church Worldwide Ministries.
As of December 28, 2024, no arrests have been made in connection with Jones's death. Detectives from the Lima Police Department are actively following up on several leads but have not taken anyone into custody. They have urged anyone with information related to the homicide to contact Detective Steve Stechschulte at (419) 812-0059 or Crime Stoppers at (419) 229-STOP.
The community has been encouraged to come forward with any information that might assist in the investigation, as the loss of Rakeem Jones has left a significant impact on his family, friends, and the broader Lima community. Vigils and memorials have been held in his honor, reflecting the deep sense of loss felt by those who knew him.
