A Cuyahoga County Grand Jury has indicted three people for the murder of a Cleveland convenience store worker, along with a string of armed robberies that took place over a roughly one-month period.
Eighteen-year-old Andre McKelvey, 21-year-old Robert McKelvey Jr., and 19-year-old Keyshawn Smith all face charges of aggravated murder in the shooting death of 33-year-old Mohamed Shahin back on Feb. 5. Other lesser charges include aggravated robbery, aggravated burglary, kidnapping, and felonious assault.
Cleveland Police Chief Calvin D. Williams issued the following statement:
"The Cleveland Division of Police Homicide Unit investigators work diligently every day to solve the city’s most atrocious crimes. I am proud of the efforts they’ve put forth and I hope that this indictment brings at least some peace to the family of the victim, Mohamed Shahin. I am always grateful for the partnership that the Division of Police has with the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office, as our collaborative efforts continue to bring the most violent offenders to justice."
According to authorities, the McKelveys and Smith attempted to rob the In & Out Drive-Thru Beverage store on Lakeview Road when they exchanged gunfire with Shahin. The suspects fled after Shahin was shot in the head, although Andre McKelvey was arrested shortly after and taken to University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center with a gunshot wound to the neck. Shahin was also taken to UH, where he died from his injuries.
While Andre McKelvey remained in custody, Robert McKelvey Jr. and Keyshawn Smith were arrested on Mar. 21. Police say further investigation discovered that the trio, along with 20-year-old Kadijah Akram, were connected to eight other robberies around Cuyahoga County between Jan. 13 and Feb. 18. While Akram has been charged with aggravated robbery, aggravated burglary, and kidnapping, he has not been charged in Shahin's murder.
"This was a gang of gun-toting robbers that preyed on commercial businesses in Cuyahoga County," County Prosecutor Michael C. O’Malley said. "They committed at least nine armed robberies in a month and murdered a 33-year-old beverage store owner in the process. This case is being evaluated for capital charges."
The suspects are scheduled to be arraigned Thursday at 8:30 a.m. in Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court.
