The grandmother of one of the teens accused of killing a 12-year-old boy on Cleveland's east side last week says her grandson didn't commit the crime and the family has the evidence to prove it.
"T.G. wasn't there. We have proof he wasn't there," said the teen's grandmother, Marlene. "I don't care what they have because if he wasn't there, there cannot be any evidence. All of this is hearsay."
The teens, both 15, were arrested this week on aggravated murder charges in the death of 12-year-old Abdel Latif Bashiti.
Marlene's grandson was charged with one count of aggravated murder, one count of murder, five counts of attempted murder, 12 counts of felonious assault and six counts of discharging a firearm.
T.G. was also charged with having weapons under disability due to a previous first-degree felony aggravated robbery charge from 2016.
The teen appeared in juvenile court Wednesday morning. During the court proceedings, Judge Michael J. Ryan advised T.G. that the prosecutor's office filed a motion to have his case bound over and are seeking to have him tried as an adult.
Based on his charges, if the teen were tried and found guilty as an adult he could face a minimum of 20 years on the aggravated murder charge, 15 years on the murder charge and 3 years on each attempted murder charge. The felonious assault charges would each carry a 2-year minimum sentence. The discharge of firearms charge would carry a 3-year minimum sentence for each charge. Additionally, prosecutors have attached a 1 and 3-year gun specification to each charge that, if found guilty on, would have to be served before the penalty on each individual charge.
If T.G.'s case isn't bound over, and he is found guilty on the above charges, he would be sentenced to serve time in an Ohio Department of Youth Services facility until his 21st birthday.
One other teen has been charged with Bashiti's death. Earlier this week, that teen — 15-year-old A.T. — was brought up on the same charges as T.G., except for the charge of having weapons under disability.
A.T. has prior juvenile misdemeanor criminal trespassing and damaging charges, according to court documents.
Marlene spoke to reporters after her grandson appeared in court, saying her heart went out to the family of the slain 12-year-old but calling into question the evidence tying the two teens to the crime.
"For the 12-year-old young man that died I am so sorry and I pray for his family. But I need for them to know my grandson wasn't there, and it makes me question if the first boy was even there."
Related: 21-year-old woman in custody in connection to Buckeye Road shooting that left 12-year-old boy dead.
