3 held on multiple counts in slaying of year-old girl

10/12/2012
BY ERICA BLAKE
BLADE STAFF WRITER
From left to right, Antwaine Jones, James Moore, and Keshawn Jennings, appear in Lucas County Common Pleas Court on Thursday.
From left to right, Antwaine Jones, James Moore, and Keshawn Jennings, appear in Lucas County Common Pleas Court on Thursday.

One day after being charged with multiple murder and assault charges for the shooting death of a 1-year-old in the Moody Manor apartment complex, three Toledo men were each ordered held in custody on $5 million bonds.

Keshawn Jennings, 20, of 244 Wasaon St., James Moore, 20, of 2037 W. Terrace View St., and Antwaine Jones, 18, of 3145 Cottage Ave., appeared in Lucas County Common Pleas Court on Thursday to face 11 charges, including aggravated murder. Judge Frederick McDonald continued arraignment on the charges until next Thursday to give the defendants time to determine if they will hire lawyers or need to have them appointed.

The men had previously been charged with obstructing justice for allegedly lying to police about the Aug. 9 shooting that resulted in the death of 1-year-old Keondra Hooks and the wounding of her sister, Leondra, 2. They had each posted cash bonds and were on electronic monitoring when the grand jury issued an 11-count indictment Wednesday.

The men each face one count of aggravated murder, murder, and improperly discharging a firearm into a habitation, two counts of attempt to commit aggravated murder and attempt to commit murder, and four counts of felonious assault, each with gun specifications. If convicted, they face life in prison.

Authorities said the charges were the result of a continued investigation by Toledo police. The obstruction charges were originally filed after the defendants allegedly denied being near the complex on the night of the shooting. Authorities said a surveillance video taken from the scene showed five people and that two of those people have since identified the three defendants as being there.

Keondra was shot once in the head when at least 12 rounds were fired into an apartment at 2225 Kent St. where she and her sister were sleeping. She died 12 hours later in Mercy St. Vincent Medical Center. Leondra was shot in the chest but survived.

Police say they believe that the shooters thought they were firing into a Moody Manor apartment claimed by the Manor Boys gang.

The multiple counts relate to the five people who were in the home at the time of the incident, authorities said.

According to Ohio law, aggravated murder can be charged when the victim is under the age of 13. The men were each charged with alternate counts of aggravated murder and murder for the death of Keondra.

The remaining charges relate to the four other occupants — two adults and two children — who were in the apartment at the time of the shooting. Specifically, Leondra and another child are the victims in the attempted aggravated murder charges, and the two attempted murder charges list the two adults as the victims. The felonious assault charges relate to each of the surviving people in the residence.

Contact Erica Blake at: eblake@theblade.com or 419-213-2134.