vorlos
Junior News Editor
Black Suspects Indicted In Steubenville Murder
Antonio Clifford, Byron Johnson, and Patrick Thurman
Three men have been indicted with the murder of 28-year-old Joshua Ryan Sweat of Weirton early Saturday morning in downtown Steubenville.
Antonio Clifford, 19, of Cincinnati is charged with aggravated murder and aggravated robbery.
Byron Johnson, 20, of Steubenville, and 19-year-old Patrick Thurman of Steubenville, are both charged with murder and complicity to aggravated robbery.
Sweat was shot to death last weekend in a parking lot that's just about 100 feet away from the Steubenville Police Station.
Assistant Jefferson County Prosecutor Jane Keenan said police have been working fast to get the suspects behind bars.
"They've been working day and night to locate these individuals and to get cooperating witnesses to come in and testify today," said Keenan.
Keenan said police believe Sweat came over from Weirton to the empty parking lot in downtown Steubenville to meet with the three suspects for a drug deal.
But police said the suspects robbed Sweat and things quickly turned deadly.
"These three individuals decided to, instead of selling him drugs, to rob him, and it was a robbery that went bad," said Keenan. "And the victim was shot one time in the back of the head."
Police said Clifford is the one who actually shot and killed the victim.
"He is who we believe to be the triggerman in the shooting," said Keenan. "He is the individual indicted with the death penalty specification."
All three men are behind bars in the Jefferson County Jail, awaiting their arraignment, which is set for August 9.
http://www.wtov9.com/news/13832486/detail.html
The father of a shooting victim was detained after he attacked his son's killer in the courtroom Monday. He has since been released by police, according to county officials.
Antonio Clifford, of Cincinnati, admitted in court that he robbed and shot 28-year-old Joshua Sweat, of Weirton, in a parking lot last year in downtown Steubenville.
Related Story:Sheriff Fred Abdalla talks about springing into action after "courtroom chaos" breaks out.
After the plea, Mike Sweat, the victim's father, leaped and began to choke Clifford. :rollpin:
Amid screams from both the victim's and the killer's families, it took dozens of law enforcement officers to control the crowd. Moments later, everyone was ordered out of the courtroom.
The outburst was in the wake of two other victim impact statements from the victim's mother and sister.
"I truly believe if you are ever set free to live in society, there will be another victim -- another family -- that is shattered," Ginger Sweat, the victim's mother, said to Clifford.
The defense and prosecution came to a plea agreement after deciding that, based on the evidence from the crime, Clifford did not initiate the robbery that took place.
Clifford, who faced the death penalty, was sentenced to 33 years to life in jail after he pleaded to aggravated murder, aggravated robbery and tampering with evidence.
The aggravated murder charge carried the most weight in the sentence. Clifford received 20 years on that charge.
Assistant Jefferson County Prosecutor Jane Keenan previously said Sweat came from Weirton to the empty parking lot in downtown Steubenville to meet with the three suspects for a drug deal.
When they met, police said the suspects robbed Sweat and Clifford shot and killed Sweat. LIVE LIKE A BLACK, DIE LIKE A BLACK.
Clifford is one of three men charged in connection with the crime. Byron Johnson, of Steubenville, is serving a 15-year sentence after pleading guilty to murder.
Patrick Thurman, also of Steubenville, previously pleaded guilty to aggravated robbery and tampering with evidence.
http://www.wtov9.com/2007/0806/13834228_240X180.jpg
Antonio Clifford, Byron Johnson, and Patrick Thurman
Three men have been indicted with the murder of 28-year-old Joshua Ryan Sweat of Weirton early Saturday morning in downtown Steubenville.
Antonio Clifford, 19, of Cincinnati is charged with aggravated murder and aggravated robbery.
Byron Johnson, 20, of Steubenville, and 19-year-old Patrick Thurman of Steubenville, are both charged with murder and complicity to aggravated robbery.
Sweat was shot to death last weekend in a parking lot that's just about 100 feet away from the Steubenville Police Station.
Assistant Jefferson County Prosecutor Jane Keenan said police have been working fast to get the suspects behind bars.
"They've been working day and night to locate these individuals and to get cooperating witnesses to come in and testify today," said Keenan.
Keenan said police believe Sweat came over from Weirton to the empty parking lot in downtown Steubenville to meet with the three suspects for a drug deal.
But police said the suspects robbed Sweat and things quickly turned deadly.
"These three individuals decided to, instead of selling him drugs, to rob him, and it was a robbery that went bad," said Keenan. "And the victim was shot one time in the back of the head."
Police said Clifford is the one who actually shot and killed the victim.
"He is who we believe to be the triggerman in the shooting," said Keenan. "He is the individual indicted with the death penalty specification."
All three men are behind bars in the Jefferson County Jail, awaiting their arraignment, which is set for August 9.
http://www.wtov9.com/news/13832486/detail.html
The father of a shooting victim was detained after he attacked his son's killer in the courtroom Monday. He has since been released by police, according to county officials.
Antonio Clifford, of Cincinnati, admitted in court that he robbed and shot 28-year-old Joshua Sweat, of Weirton, in a parking lot last year in downtown Steubenville.
Related Story:Sheriff Fred Abdalla talks about springing into action after "courtroom chaos" breaks out.
After the plea, Mike Sweat, the victim's father, leaped and began to choke Clifford. :rollpin:
Amid screams from both the victim's and the killer's families, it took dozens of law enforcement officers to control the crowd. Moments later, everyone was ordered out of the courtroom.
The outburst was in the wake of two other victim impact statements from the victim's mother and sister.
"I truly believe if you are ever set free to live in society, there will be another victim -- another family -- that is shattered," Ginger Sweat, the victim's mother, said to Clifford.
The defense and prosecution came to a plea agreement after deciding that, based on the evidence from the crime, Clifford did not initiate the robbery that took place.
Clifford, who faced the death penalty, was sentenced to 33 years to life in jail after he pleaded to aggravated murder, aggravated robbery and tampering with evidence.
The aggravated murder charge carried the most weight in the sentence. Clifford received 20 years on that charge.
Assistant Jefferson County Prosecutor Jane Keenan previously said Sweat came from Weirton to the empty parking lot in downtown Steubenville to meet with the three suspects for a drug deal.
When they met, police said the suspects robbed Sweat and Clifford shot and killed Sweat. LIVE LIKE A BLACK, DIE LIKE A BLACK.
Clifford is one of three men charged in connection with the crime. Byron Johnson, of Steubenville, is serving a 15-year sentence after pleading guilty to murder.
Patrick Thurman, also of Steubenville, previously pleaded guilty to aggravated robbery and tampering with evidence.
http://www.wtov9.com/2007/0806/13834228_240X180.jpg
Last edited by a moderator: