BRUNSWICK, Ohio — What was supposed to be a simple transaction of a video game system resulted in gun violence and the death of a 16-year-old Brunswick boy.
Investigators say Mye'Zavier "Zay" Cannady and two friends drove from Brunswick to Warren on Friday evening. They were set to arrive at a pre-arranged meeting point with an interested buyer of a PlayStation video game unit. The meeting had been arranged with the buyer through a buy, sell, & trade app.
But the deal suddenly took a turn.
"There was some conversation because it was raining at the time," says Warren police Capt. Robert Massucci. "Did they have a bag to cover up the PlayStation, they had some conversation. He went to hand them the controllers and a gun was brandished by the suspects."
Moments later, the teen was shot multiple times as the two suspects, reportedly wearing ski masks, sped off. Detectives believe it was all a set-up.
Meanwhile, Zay's friends rushed to get help and flagged down a nearby officer.
"They pulled up to the officer, beeping the horn and flashing the lights at him. They explained to the officer that they had a gunshot victim in the car," Capt. Massucci added.
Police say a shooting death over a PlayStation is pathetic.
"I know PlayStation 5 and Xbox are hard to come by, they're not that easy to get," says Massucci. "At the same time, are you kidding? This kid was 16-years-old. He didn't deserve to be killed over a video game."
Zay later died at a hospital. He leaves behind many classmates and friends at Brunswick High School in addition to his family.
"I'm still shocked. I can't really comprehend what's going on," says Ayanna Woodard, Zay's sister.
There was a sea of support at Brunswick Lake Park on Saturday as dozens in the community honored Zay's life and said their goodbyes.
A loving live, gone far too soon to gun violence.
"He was just everything. He was just a very, very caring person. He would give you his all. If you needed anything, he was there," Woodard adds.
Below is the full message that Superintendent Jason Niedermeyer sent to Brunswick City School District families on Saturday:
"Yesterday evening, the Brunswick City School District was notified about the tragic death of one of our high school students. Please know that we have a well-trained crisis response team in place, and they will be working to ensure our students and staff have a support network to help them navigate this loss. This team will be available for students and staff on Monday in the Student Center. Loss of any type within our community can cause emotional and behavioral responses. As a result, please encourage your student to reach out if they need someone to talk with during this difficult time.
Brunswick is an incredible community. The tragic loss of one of our students will undoubtedly have a lasting impact on our students, families, and staff. Every student in our district is a valued, cherished member of our BCSD family. Our hearts are heavy for the loved ones who mourn.
Please keep the loved ones of this student in your thoughts and prayers."
Warren police are continuing to search for the suspects responsible for Zay's death. They are working on several leads.
Meanwhile, Brunswick police say they have launched a program that is intended to avoid incidents like this from happening.
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