The death of a 15-year-old boy in East Cleveland Thursday evening has some like East Cleveland Council President Lateek Shabazz calling for the gun violence to end.
“Everything is so violent. We need to tighten up our community, pay attention,” said Shabazz.
Even Councilman Twon Billings said he wants the community to find other solutions rather than using guns.
“You telling me that you can’t get control of that, nobody can go to these guys and talk to these guys and say, 'Listen, I got a better way for you.' Get them jobs, talk to them, show them it’s a different way,” said East Cleveland Councilman Twon Billings.
According to Acting Chief Ken Lundy, officers responded to the 1700 block of Elwood Road just after 7 p.m. after getting a call about someone shot.
When officers arrived, they found Alex Holloway had been shot in the jaw and had "no signs of life," Lundy said. EMS transported the teen to a nearby hospital where he was pronounced dead.
“It’s an emotional trauma, but I always say society has gotten used to these things and by them being used to these things, they have got to a point that it’s okay, okay well that’s bad. We’re going to move on,” said Billings.
But as the investigation continues, Billings encouraged the community to step up and take accountability.
“That’s how I changed. My bunkie said some things to me that offended the mess out of me, but one thing I can say [is] it changed me,” said Billings.
Before Billings began serving on the East Cleveland City Council, he said he was heavily involved in the street and gang life.
But through change, he said he turned his life around, so now he wants to show the community it is possible to fight against the violence.
“I’m still the same person but with a different mindset and I would just say for society, you have to have that same edge on you to say I want to be involved. I want to help people change,” said Billings.
A $5,000 reward has been offered for information leading to an arrest and successful prosecution in this case. Anyone with a tip is asked to contact the East Cleveland Police Detective Bureau at 216-681-2162 or Crime Stoppers at 216-252-7463.
