In a sobering display of accountability, three young men have accepted guilt in connection with a series of homicides that shook Cleveland two years ago. According to an announcement by the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor's Office today, Jihada Aaron, Brian Cox Jr., and Deric Thomas have pleaded guilty to the murder of 19-year-old Anzaiyeh Brooks and two other homicides in November and December 2020. Prosecutor Michael C. O'Malley referred to the group as "the most violent group of juveniles" he's ever encountered in the county.
While the brutality of the attacks was startling, the arrest and subsequent interrogation by the Cleveland Division of Police tied the trio to the crimes using ballistic and DNA evidence, along with phone records. It was following the senseless shooting, as reported on November 8, 2020, Deric Thomas drove a stolen BMW SUV, carrying co-defendants Aaron and Cox Jr., who proceeded to open fire on Brooks as he rode his bike near Sidaway Avenue and Kinsman Road. Brooks succumbed to the injuries after being hit in the head and shoulder.
Further linking this group to rampant violence, the Prosecutor's Office lays out the chilling narrative of the December 9 incident, where 15-year-old Anthony Hughes was fatally shot while walking with others. Allen Simuel Jr., another affiliate, who is presently facing his litany of charges, was implicated for driving by Hughes and doubling back to facilitate the shooting by Aaron and Cox Jr. A 43-year-old man was also hit in the exchange.
Yesterday night, Aaron pleaded guilty to two counts of involuntary manslaughter, alongside convictions for a separate homicide and aggravated robbery committed on a different occasion. Aaron, already serving 18 years, is facing a recommendation for a sentence that could extend his prison time to 45 to 56.5 years. Brian Cox Jr.'s acknowledgment of his role in the form of two counts of involuntary manslaughter will likely add to a current 14-year sentence, culminating in a possible 31 to 36.5 years behind bars. Thomas ended up pleading to a mix of charges, including one count of involuntary manslaughter, landing a proposed sentence of 18 years in prison.
The case against Allen Simuel Jr. remains unresolved, with an indictment including an aggravated murder charge among several others still hanging over him. The trial for Simuel Jr. is a scene set apart, awaiting its outcome in court. Amidst this unresolved chapter lay the echoes of past violence, seeking to be corrected by present justice. As the sentences are scheduled to be delivered, the community anticipates, perhaps not closure, but a step towards healing the wounds of senseless violence that have marred their collective consciousness.
