CLEVELAND — Nearly two years since the murder of 13-year-old Maurco Toler, two men were sentenced to life in prison on Thursday afternoon.
Duane Jackson was sentenced to life with the possibility of parole after 32 years, and Leroy Anthony Billips was sentenced to life with the possibility of parole after 25 years.
Both were found guilty of murder, felonious assault, and other charges in a trial earlier this month.
Toler’s family wore custom sweatshirts in Maurco's honor, adorned with his name, messages, and photos of the 13-year-old. He was visiting a friend on Zeman Avenue in Euclid when he was killed in a drive by shooting on December 11, 2021.
On Thursday, family and loved ones of Toler, Jackson and Billips filled the courtroom. Family and friends of Toler and Jackson addressed the judge in court, and Billips expressed his condolences to Toler’s family.
“Everybody has lost something here today, and it’s very unfortunate that we’re even here. I don’t know what happened,” said Tomeka Ewing, Jackson’s godmother. “He was a good kid, he’s always been a good kid. I don’t know what happened, but what I do know is nowadays, our children are more loyal to the streets than they are to their families. And I know that nowadays, modern technology can be a curse and a blessing for our children.”
A number of family members of Toler’s spoke, sharing memories of the 13-year-old, and expressing their pain since his death.
“Although he will get whatever time he gets today, he gets to get that time, we don’t get time with Maurco,” said Toler’s godmother, Jillene Pruiett of Jackson. “That time is gone, it stopped for us.”
“All these dreams and aspirations that my grandson and I used to talk about are all gone for me. I don’t get our virtual hugs anymore, as we called them,” said Toler’s grandmother Andrea Ayers. “Maurco was actually one of my grandkids who called to check on me quite often, I’m going to miss those things about him.”
Through tears, Maurco’s mother, Anita Deal, recalled learning of her son’s death. She showed the court the ashes of her son worn around her neck, remembering him as someone who always showed love, who helped his neighbors, and who loved music and rapping from a young age.
“My whole entire street was at my son’s services. Never seen them in my life, but my son knew them,” Deal said. “Shoveled snow, raked leaves. They told me ‘I must have been here today, because your son holds a place in my heart.’”
After the trial, she said she felt happy.
“I thank every last one of y’all, every last one of y’all that’s been on this journey for almost two years for my baby,” Deal said. “Because ya’ll didn’t just do ya’ll job, ya’ll genuinely showed my son love.”
The Cuyahoga County Prosecutor's Office tells 3News that Javyonne Stewart, a suspect in Toler’s death, is still on the run. The US Marshals’ Service tells 3News they are “following up on all leads” on Stewart.