Police have revealed that a 17-year-old boy has been beaten to death after a group he was with pulled a water gun on unsuspecting people. According to Insider, Ethan Liming was outside of the I Promise School when he was found unresponsive in the parking lot.
The I Promise School was established by LeBron James’ foundation. However, it’s unclear if Liming or any of the other people involved have any connection to the school.
Teens Used Splat Ball Gun on Unsuspecting People, Now 3 Men Have Been Arrested for Murder
As Akron Police Chief Stephen Mylett explained in a press conference, authorities were called to the scene at 10:46 p.m. on June 2. When officers arrived, they discovered Liming on the ground.
Despite performing lifesaving measures, the teenager was pronounced dead at the scene. “Ethan Liming lost his life in a senseless act of violence. Ethan did not deserve to die Saturday night. He did not.”
It’s believed that prior to the fight breaking out, Liming was shooting people with a splat gun, also known as a water gun. Three other people were with Liming in the parking lot near the basketball courts the night of his murder.
According to their interviews, “shortly after their arrival, they got out of their vehicle, and at least two members of occupants of the vehicle started discharging a, what we know now to be a SPLATRBALL Water Bead Blaster,” Mylett explained.
“They started discharging it at the direction of four individuals who were playing basketball on the basketball court.” At that moment, the people playing basketball ran away, while the two people from the car ran in towards them.
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Following that chase, those with the water guns ran back to the car and the four people who were playing basketball began chasing them. That’s when “a confrontation occurs. Ethan Liming is assaulted, and a fight ensues. At the conclusion of it, Ethan Liming is dead.”
It remains unclear if Liming knew the individuals playing basketball or if he was the one using the water gun. Nonetheless, police say Liming’s injuries “would suggest that there was a prolonged, intentional intent to assault him.”
Since the deadly fight took place, three people have since been arrested. Deshawn Stafford, 20; Tyler Stafford, 19; and Donovan Jones, 21, have all been arrested on murder and felonious assault charges, News 5 reports.
“The collective actions of the teens in the car appear to have unfortunately provoked the altercation,” Mylett revealed. “While these actions appear to have played a role in the incident, investigators do not believe the attack or the murder were remotely justified.”
Liming’s parents have since spoken out following their son’s untimely passing. Bill and Jennifer told News 5, “We would do anything we could possibly do to turn the clock back and have him in my arms again. And to see his face again, but they robbed me of even that ability. And they destroyed my child’s face and his head.”
Bill then addressed those who said his son deserved what happened to him. “People keep saying, ‘Oh, you do these things and you get what you deserve.’ I don’t think anybody’s child would ever deserve what happened to him. Nobody’s child would deserve what they did to my child.”
According to FOX 8, the three suspects appeared in court on June 13 and all plead not guilty to the murder and felonious assault charges. Their bails have been set a $1 million.
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