AKRON, Ohio — The U.S. Marshals Service Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force has joined the search for the two teens wanted for the murder of 18-year-old Na'Kia Crawford earlier this month in Akron.
17-year-old Adarus Black of Lakemore, faces a charge of murder. 18-year-old Jaion Bivins is wanted in connection to the homicide and charged with tampering with evidence and obstruction.
Reward money for information directly leading to the arrest of Adarus Black is offered for up to $5,000. Reward money for information directly leading to the arrest of Jaion Bivins is offered for up to $2,500.
Na’Kia was driving home with her grandmother after visiting a bank when she was shot on June 14. She was pronounced dead a short time later at Summa Akron City Hospital of a gunshot wound to her neck. Multiple spent shell casing were found by police at the scene, reports show.
Her grandmother was not injured, police said. The shooting took place near West North and North Howard streets, just a few blocks from the family’s home.
Na'Kia, who just graduated from North High School and was intent on attending Central State University in the fall.
Police say the shooter was inside a black Camaro that had stopped at a traffic light next to the car Na'Kia was driving. The car fled immediately afterward. Police say the car was found abandoned in Cleveland and is being processed for evidence.
The three suspects involved in the case were revealed by Akron Police during a press conference last Thursday. Chief Deputy Jesse Lesser announced that warrants had been taken out for Black, Bivins, and 24-year-old Janisha George of Tallmadge. She faces a charge of obstruction of justice.
It was expected that Bivins would turn himself into police, but that has not occurred.
There is nothing to indicate prior knowledge between Na'Kia and the suspects, according to Lesser. Police believe the shooting was a case of mistaken identity and Crawford found herself in the wrong place at the wrong time.
“While nothing will ever bring Na’kia back, we hope that these pending arrests will bring some sense of justice to this grieving family. I thank the detectives and leadership of the Akron Police Department for their skilled investigative work and I strongly encourage the remaining suspects to contact the Akron Police Department to peacefully turn themselves in today," Akron Mayor Dan Horrigan said in a statement.
The news that police had identified the suspects in the Na'Kia Crawford shooting went national quickly, attracting the attention of Akron native LeBron James, who has been closely following the case. "Music to our ears for US who love and bleed the city of Akron," James tweeted.