Three people have been arrested in connection to a student who was beaten to death outside of LeBron James’ I Promise School in Akron, Ohio.
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The incident took place outside of the school around 10:30 p.m. on June 2 where Ethan Liming, 17, was found dead in the school parking lot after friends contacted 911. Akron Police Chief Stephen Mylett said the beating occurred after Liming and three other people arrived at the school parking lot and started firing a gel blaster gun toward several others at a basketball court. Mylett also clarified that the incident was not a hate crime as reported by KKTV.
After the investigation, US Marshalls arrested 21-year-old Donovan Jones, Tyler Stafford,19, and Deshawn Stafford Jr, 20. The suspects were tracked to their homes within the neighborhood and were taken into custody.
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“I am happy to report that today, officers with the Akron Police Department, made several arrests in connection with the death of Ethan Liming. We thank the members of the community for their outpouring of support that helped investigators throughout this investigation. We will continue to follow any leads that will result in bringing those responsible for Ethan’s death to justice. While I believe the news of the arrests will be welcomed by Ethan’s family and loved ones, we all recognize that nothing will bring Ethan back. Violence in this country must stop. We are losing too many lives to senseless acts of violence,” Mylett said in the following statement.
After learning about the teen’s death, LeBron James also issued his condolences to Liming’s family on Twitter.
Our condolences goes out to the family who lost a loved one!! My the heavens above watch over you during this tragedy! Pray for our community! 💚👑 https://t.co/bpq5qsoNfO
— LeBron James (@KingJames) June 3, 2022
Liming was a high school senior at the Firestone Community Learning Center and attended the school’s Academy of Design Program.
“Our Akron Public Schools family expresses its deepest condolences and offers its prayers to the family and friends of a student who lost his life last night. We mourn as one for Ethan Liming, a 17-year-old rising senior at Firestone Community Learning Center. Ethan was a student leader at his school and was in the Academy of Design there. The death of a student affects all of Akron Public Schools. Ethan’s passing is, sadly, one of many we have experienced during this school year. May we all pause a moment from our daily pressures to give thanks for the lives of these children. May we forever find ways to keep our memories of them alive. Each of these losses reminds us about how precious, and sometimes fleeting, life can be.” wrote Akron Public Schools Superintendent Christine Fowler Mack.
The US Marshalls also released a statement in reference to the arrest and said they will continue working on combating violent crime within the community.