AKRON, Ohio — Two Akron brothers were sentenced Monday to life in prison without parole for the random murders of two people one year ago, possibly as a gang initiation attempt.
Donyea Tyus, 30, and Orlando Tyus, 28, were both found guilty earlier this month of two counts of aggravated murder with gun specifications, two counts of murder with gun specifications, two counts of felonious assault and having a weapon under a disability.
“This ruthless act left two innocent people dead. Bonn and Robert were loved by their family. The pain of their loss will never go away,” said Prosecutor Walsh. “I am pleased knowing these two cold-blooded killers will be in prison the rest of their lives. The community is safer with them locked up.”
On July 7, 2018, the Tyus brothers, along with 21-year-old Cheyenne James, drove around Akron with the intent of killing random people, according to a news release from the Summit County Prosecutor’s Office. The motive was possibly to initiate themselves into a new gang.
At about 3:30 a.m., outside the 600 block of Schiller Avenue in Akron, the Tyus brothers and James parked on the street and waited in their car, the release states. Bonn Rassavong, 46, and his brother were leaving a house after visiting family and walked toward the parked car. The Tyus brothers got out of their car and started shooting.
Orlando Tyus fired multiple shots, killing Rassavong, officials stated. Donyea Tyus pointed his gun and attempted to shoot Rassavong, but his gun malfunctioned and did not fire. James remained in the car during this incident.
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The trio then drove to the area of Arlington Street with the intent of having Donyea Tyus shoot and kill the next victim, according to prosecutors. Tyus confronted 58-year-old Robert McCall and shot him in the head. He died from his injuries.
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At about 5 a.m. the same morning, the three lured a woman into an alley off 6th Avenue, the release states. James pointed a gun to the woman’s head, but the gun malfunctioned and did not fire. The woman was able to escape.
Eventually, James was questioned by Akron police and confessed to the entire incident. On Feb. 13, 2019, she pleaded guilty to the full indictment, a charge of felonious assault, a second-degree felony. She will be sentenced on August 5 of this year.
