Akron man sentenced to at least 15 years for the murder of pregnant woman

AKRON, Ohio (WOIO) - A 21-year-old Akron man involved in the 2022 murder of a 21-year-old pregnant woman was sentenced to at least 15 years in prison in the Summit County Common Pleas Court Wednesday.

21-year-old Lenier Worthy pleaded guilty to two first-degree felony counts of involuntary manslaughter with a firearm specification and a fourth-degree felony count of improperly handling a firearm in a motor vehicle, according to a release from the Summit County Prosecutor.

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According to the release, in 2022 on April 14, Darrion Rackley, Zyeir Saunders, Antonil Whitaker, and Jeremiah Williams parked their car on Rockaway Street near a location where Worthy, Jaunte Smith, Jaevaiaire Small, and another woman were hanging out.

Another car with the victim and others pulled up to that location and the driver stuck his head out of the window, that’s when Rackley, Saunders, Whitaker and Williams opened fire on the other car with Worthy, Smith, and Small, who thought the gunshots were coming from the car, according to the release.

The release said Worthy, Smith and Small then returned fire, striking the victim in the crossfire.

The woman was shot in the head and later died at the hospital, according to the release, she was also six weeks pregnant when she died.