An 18-year-old man from Cleveland has been indicted by a Cuyahoga County grand jury in connection with the fatal shootings of a 17-year-old and a 16-year-old. Both teens were found dead with gunshot wounds to the head inside a stolen vehicle.
According to a news release from Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Michael O’Malley, police responded around 1 a.m. on January 14 to reports of a stolen vehicle that had crashed into a utility pole near Warner Road and Jefferies Avenue in Cleveland.
At the scene, officers encountered Phoenix Brown, 18, walking away from the crash site with blood-stained clothing. Brown attempted to flee but was apprehended after a brief foot chase along Force Avenue, during which he allegedly discarded a firearm.
Police used a mobile fingerprint scanner to confirm Brown’s identity after he initially refused to provide it. Inside the crashed 2020 Kia Soul, which had been reported stolen two days earlier, officers discovered 17-year-old Khalyn White and 16-year-old Julius Barron, both deceased from gunshot wounds to the head.
Investigators determined that a spent shell casing found in the vehicle matched the firearm Brown reportedly discarded while fleeing.
On Thursday, Brown was indicted on 13 charges, including aggravated murder, murder, felonious assault, receiving stolen property, tampering with evidence, and possession of a weapon while under disability.
“The level of violence being committed by young individuals is devastating our community,” Prosecutor O’Malley said. “This indictment demonstrates our commitment to holding violent offenders accountable and ensuring justice is served.”
Brown is scheduled to be arraigned on Tuesday, January 28. Cleveland police are continuing to investigate the incident, with additional details expected as the case develops.