CLEVELAND — Euclid police have arrested a suspect in the shooting that killed a 17-year-old boy and wounded four other teens outside the Euclid High School campus after a football game Friday night, the department said Sunday morning.
A 15-year-old Euclid boy was arrested at a private residence at around 8 p.m. Saturday and is currently in custody at the Cuyahoga County Juvenile Detention Center, the Euclid Police Department announced in a press release. The 15-year-old is the lone suspect in the deadly mass shooting.
According to police, five teens aged 16 to 17 were shot near East 222nd Street at around 10:15 p.m. as police were conducting crowd control about an hour after the end of a high school football game. A 17-year-old boy, whom police identified Sunday as Euclid resident Sincere Rowdy, was killed by the gunfire. The four other teens, who will not be identified by police, survived.
"We ask that you keep all of the families and friends forever affected by this horrible tragedy in your thoughts and prayers," the police department said Sunday.
Euclid police Captain Mitch Houser said charges against the 15-year-old suspect would be determined at a later date.
3News spoke with Travis Williams Sr., a parent of one of the victims, on Saturday. He shared his recount of the aftermath of the shooting.
“She just came down screaming, ‘He shot, he shot.’ I said, ‘Who shot?’ She said, ‘Travis,’” said Travis Williams Sr. On Friday night, Williams said he received news no parent should ever have to get—that his son was shot.
Parents of the victims say the shooting was sparked by an argument between the boys.
“I never thought I would get that call, knowing all this stuff is going on. And for that call—that’s my junior. I’m like, ‘Wait, hold up,’” said Williams. “So, he just ran behind the car, pulled a gun out, and started shooting—shot my son first, then shot everybody else,” said Williams. Williams went on to say his 17-year-old son did not know the alleged shooter, but he did know the boy who died.
“That’s crazy. He was 17, and he died for what? Senseless,” said Williams.
Now Williams is thanking a higher power that his son is still alive.
“He is getting better; he’s going to be alright. I just thank God he is still here,” said Williams.
An investigation into the fatal shooting remains ongoing. Police ask anyone with information to call the detective bureau at 216-289-8505.