CLEVELAND -- A 94-year-old woman is dead following an early morning home invasion in Cleveland. The murder count in the city now stands at 94 in the year 2018.
Police say the latest homicide happened around 1:42 a.m. Monday in the 6200 block of Gertrude Avenue.
During the home invasion, police say two women -- ages 94 and 74 -- were assaulted. Both suffered head trauma, according to police.
The 94-year-old victim, identified as Eucebia Garcia, later died at MetroHealth Medical Center. 74-year-old Marina Garcia was taken to the hospital for treatment. Her condition is unknown.
"On scene, it was learned that the suspect had entered the home through a window where he confronted both victims who were sleeping in a bedroom," police say. "The suspect physically assaulted both victims and then took property from the home."
The suspect's description is vague, but he's believed to be approximately 25 years old.
"Someone who does this is punching their ticket to hell," said Councilman Tony Brancatelli, of Ward 12, which includes Slavic Village.
The crime is s set back for the neighborhood, he says, which has seen progress in recent years.
"We've been making a lot of headway over there, building 30 new homes, having lots of new families moving in," said Brancatelli.
So far this year, there have been 94 murders in the city of Cleveland, more than at this time in 2017.
But more help may soon be on the way.
The city is in the process of hiring 250 new police officers. Approximately 80 to 90 officers are expected to pass cadet academy, and will be ready to hit the streets by November. These new officers will also be required to walk the neighborhood, in accordance with a policy Police Chief Calvin Williams instituted last spring.
"Two hours on [an officer's] shift -- You get out of your car, you shut your car off and you walk the beat," said Councilman Matt Zone, who heads the council's public safety committee.
Funding for the new police officers comes from the passage of Issue 32 in 2016, which was the first income tax that passed in Cleveland in 35 years.