A Cleveland husband and wife convicted in the fatal shooting of 10-year-old Kaden Coleman are set to learn their punishment Thursday morning in Cuyahoga County Court, a grim milestone in a case that has haunted the city’s East Side for more than a year.
Jeffrey Grant, 35, and Lanaemarshe Grant, 34, were found guilty by separate juries in mid-February on charges tied to the February 2025 killing. According to the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor's Office, the couple is scheduled for sentencing Thursday, March 5, at 9 a.m. Prosecutor Michael C. O'Malley said in a statement that the verdicts came after a detailed investigation that linked the pair to the shooting, adding, "A jury has spoken, delivering justice for Kaden Coleman."
The Shooting And Immediate Aftermath
Kaden was riding in the backseat of a car that was pulling out of a driveway near East 147th Street and Edgewood Avenue on Feb. 7, 2025, when gunfire erupted. He was hit and rushed to University Hospitals Rainbow Babies & Children's Hospital, where he died several hours later, as reported by WOIO/Cleveland19.
Prosecutors say two people arrived at the scene in a rental car and opened fire on the vehicle carrying Kaden, striking the 10-year-old and triggering a months-long homicide investigation that led to the Grants’ arrests the following week.
Arrests And Evidence
On Feb. 10, 2025, police executed a search warrant at a home in Maple Heights. Inside, investigators found what they described as a drug lab in the basement along with more than 550 grams of cocaine, according to the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor's Office. Officers arrested Jeffrey and Lanaemarshe Grant at the scene.
Prosecutors say surveillance footage, clothing, cellphone records and the rental car itself linked Jeffrey Grant to the shooting. Forensic and digital evidence also allegedly connected both defendants to drug trafficking activity tied to the Maple Heights home.
What Juries Found
The mid-February verdicts capped a closely watched trial. WOIO/Cleveland19 reports that jurors convicted Jeffrey Grant of aggravated murder, murder, attempted murder, involuntary manslaughter, felonious assault and multiple drug counts. They found Lanaemarshe Grant guilty of involuntary manslaughter along with several drug offenses.
In addition to the jury verdicts, officials said a judge found both Jeffrey and Lanaemarshe Grant guilty of having weapons while under disability.
Community Reaction
The killing of a 10-year-old in a car on a residential street has remained a source of pain and anger across Cleveland neighborhoods, especially among residents who say kids are growing up with gunfire as background noise.
At a city town hall last year, another 10-year-old, Lorenzo Roberson, spoke publicly about Kaden’s death. Community mentor Oronde East told News 5 Cleveland that the case has pushed local groups to ramp up violence-prevention efforts. "It's burdensome to know that a young man at the age of ten lost his life for nothing," East said.
Potential Penalties Under Ohio Law
Because prosecutors secured aggravated murder convictions, the defendants are staring down the most serious penalties available in Ohio. Under state law, aggravated murder can result in a death sentence, life without the possibility of parole, or life with parole eligibility after a set term, according to the Ohio Revised Code.
The exact outcome will depend on the specific counts of conviction, any statutory aggravating or mitigating factors, and the arguments that prosecutors and defense attorneys put on the record at Thursday’s hearing.
What Happens Next
Sentencing is slated to begin at 9 a.m. Thursday in Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court, where the judge is expected to hear victim-impact statements and formal sentencing arguments, according to coverage from Yahoo.
Even with two convictions secured, the case is not entirely closed. Police say they are still working to identify an unknown third person believed to be connected to the shooting, and investigators continue to seek tips as the case moves into its next phase, News 5 Cleveland reported.
