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3 Akron men sentenced to multiple decades in prison for roles in killing of pregnant woman

The trio all pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter for the 2022 shooting death of 21-year-old Teyurra Harris, an innocent bystander in a large gunfight.

AKRON, Ohio — Three Akron men will all serve multiple decades in prison for their roles in the shooting death of a pregnant woman more than a year ago.

Summit County Common Pleas Judge Alison McCarty on Tuesday sentenced Darrion Rackley, 20, to between 34 and 39 1/2 years behind bars as well as Antonil Whitaker, 17, and Jeremiah Williams, 22, each to 20-24 years. All three previously pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter and two counts of felonious assault (all with gun specifications), with Williams also receiving an extra charge of the latter offense.

The trio were among seven people either charged or convicted in connection with the killing of 21-year-old Teyurra Harris and her unborn child. According to prosecutors, Harris was an innocent bystander in a large gunfight involving the suspects.

On the evening of April 14, 2022, Rackley, Whitaker, Williams, and 20-year-old Zyeir Saunders were parked in a vehicle on Rockaway Street not far from where 19-year-old Jaunte Smith, 21-year-old Jaevaiaire Small, and another 18-year-old woman were hanging out. Harris was a passenger in another vehicle that pulled up in between the two groups when the driver of her car stuck his head out the window, and Saunders, Whitaker, and Rackley started shooting.

The 18-year-old woman was struck in the leg, and Small, Smith, and a third individual began firing at Harris' car thinking that's where the initial bullets had come from. Harris, who was six weeks pregnant at the time, was shot and the head and later died.

Credit: Summit County Prosecutor's Office
From left: Booking photos of Darrion Rackley, Antonil Whitaker, and Jeremiah Williams.

Besides Rackley, Whitaker, and Williams, Saunders also pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter and other charges, and is currently serving a sentence of between 35 and 40 1/2 years. Small received a four-year sentence for aggravated assault and weapons offenses, while Smith got 2 1/2 years for aggravated assault.

Saunders, Small, Smith, Rackley, Whitaker, and Williams were originally accused of murder before accepting plea deals. Additionally, Whitaker was just 16 at the time of the shooting and originally charged as a juvenile before his case was bound over to Summit County Common Pleas Court. Since he pleaded guilty as an adult, prosecutors and 3News have identified him even though he is still technically a minor.

The remaining suspect, 20-year-old Lenier Worthy, still faces homicide and assault charges and is scheduled to appear in court on Dec. 30 for a pretrial hearing.

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