Plea hearing for 2 additional suspects in 2022 Cuyahoga Falls murder

AKRON, Ohio (WOIO) - Two additional suspects accused in connection with the murder of 23-year-old man in Cuyahoga Falls pleaded guilty in Summit County Court of Common Pleas Thursday morning.

Giovanni Stanford, 23, was shot and killed on May 26, 2022.

On Oct. 6, a jury found Deair Wray guilty of several charges; including, murder and felonious assault. He will be sentenced on Oct. 19.

Deair Wray also goes by Deair Johnson.

On Oct. 12, Durell McDowell and Jameir McDowell also pleaded guilty.

Durell McDowell pleaded guilty to obstructing justice and was sentenced by Judge Kathryn Michael to 355 days in prison. Durell has already served that amount of time.

Jameir McDowell also pleaded guilty to obstructing justice and was sentenced to two years in prison.

Cuyahoga Falls police said Stanford was shot and killed inside an apartment in the 1300 block of Forest Glen Dr.

Dezah Robertson, 22, was also shot, but she survived her injuries.

Investigators discovered Wray shot through a window, striking Stanford and Robertson. Wray and Robertson had a prior relationship and have a child together, said Summit County Prosecutor Sherri Bevan Walsh.

The U.S. Marshal Service Violent Fugitive Task Force arrested Wray in August 2022.

Copyright 2022 WOIO. All rights reserved.