CLEVELAND — The Cuyahoga County Prosecutor's Office announced Tuesday that three men entered guilty pleas in connection to the death of two people in 2020.
Jihada Aaron, age 21, Brian Cox Jr., age 20, and Deric Thomas, age 20, pleaded guilty to various charges in the death of then 19-year-old Anzaiyeh Brooks in November of 2020. Aaron and Cox Jr. also pleaded guilty to charges in connection to the death of 15-year-old Anthony Hughes and the shooting of a 43-year-old man in December of 2020.
All three were juveniles at the time of the crimes.
“This is the most violent group of juveniles I have ever seen in Cuyahoga County,” said Prosecutor O’Malley. “This group is responsible for murdering three separate people in a month.”
On Monday, December 2, Jihada Aaron pleaded guilty to the following charges:
- Two counts of Involuntary Manslaughter
Aaron was also convicted of involuntary manslaughter and aggravated robbery in the death of another man on November 20, 2020.
Brian Cox Jr. pleaded guilty to the following charges:
- Two counts of Involuntary Manslaughter
Deric Thomas pleaded guilty to the following charges:
- One count of Involuntary Manslaughter
- One count of Felonious Assault
- One count of Receiving Stolen Property
A fourth person, Allen Samuel Jr. was indicted on charges last month in connection to the death of Anthony Hughes and shooting of the 43-year-old man. The charges include:
- One count of Aggravated Murder
- Two counts of Murder
- One count of Discharge Of Firearm On Or Near Prohibited Premises
- Six counts of Felonious Assault
- One count of Improperly Handling Firearms In A Motor Vehicle
- One count of Receiving Stolen Property
- One count of Having Weapons While Under Disability
According to court documents, Samuel was driving with Aaron and Cox Jr. in a stolen car when they drove past Hughes. They turned the car around and drove back towards Hughes. That's when Aaron and Cox Jr. opened fire striking the the 15-year-old and 43-year-old.
