AKRON, Ohio — An Akron man was sentenced Wednesday for his connection to the 2020 shooting death of an 8-year-old girl.
Robert Scott will face 10 to 13.5 years in prison after pleading guilty to two counts of complicity to commit felonious assault and one three-year firearm specification.
On Aug. 14, 2020, 8-year-old Mikayla Pickett was shot and killed while at a birthday party at a home on Roselle Avenue in Akron.
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Police said Scott was one of several people who opened fire at the party, but prosecutors do not believe he fired the shot that killed Mikayla.
"Those individuals showed up at the party, opened up fire, and there was at a minimum 50 shell casings at the party," Assistant Summit County Prosecutor Zach Neumann said.
Neumann said at least five guns were fired, some from a wooded area, while others were fired blindly back from the party.
At the time of the shooting, Mikayla's mom, Shoskamika Risper, said her daughter was supposed to be at home one street over on Longview Avenue, but a babysitter decided to take the girl to the party.
"She didn't deserve to die, especially at such a young age, so it really took a toll on us," said Risper.
"She loved to dance. She just loved life," said Lynette Williams, Mikayla's cousin during a victim impact statement in court.
Family members said Mikayla was eating a piece of pizza when she was caught in the crossfire and died. A 14-year-old girl was also injured in the shooting.
"We have not had peace at all," Williams said. "She is gone forever."
Scott was arrested in 2023 for the shooting. Three men were charged with the murder. One of them was shot to death in 2024. Prosecutors dismissed charges against the other two due to problems with evidence and witnesses.
"It was a fluid situation with multiple shooters, a bunch of witnesses that didn't know what happened, and then, cooperation from those witnesses that were present was difficult," Neumann said.
Mikayla's family said they do not yet feel they have justice.
"We need for everyone that was shooting to pay, so do we really have justice here today? I think not," said Williams. "City of Akron, do your job. Catch the rest of them. He was not the only one shooting at that party!"
Even with the conviction and sentencing, police and prosecutors will continue to investigate the case, and if new evidence emerges or witnesses come forward, more people could be charged, Neumann said.
