Gang member gets 3 years for role in Moody Manor fatal shooting

James Moore turns and apologizes to the Hooks family. At right is Allison Lawrence, one of his two attorneys.

A Manor Boyz gang member who testified in the trial of two fellow gang members convicted in the shooting death of a 1-year-old girl pleaded guilty today to involuntary manslaughter.

James Moore, 21, of 2037 W. Terrace View St., was then sentenced to three years in prison by Lucas County Common Pleas Judge Frederick McDonald.

The plea agreement was reached with Moore and the Lucas County prosecutor’s office in May after Moore admitted his role in the Aug. 9 death of Keondra Hooks and the wounding of her 2-year-old sister, Leondra, at the Moody Manor housing complex in North Toledo.

As part of the agreement, Moore agreed to testify against co-defendants Keshawn Jennings, 21, and Antwaine Jones, 19, who both were found guilty Friday following a two-week jury trial.

In court today, Moore apologized to the family of the young girl.

Jennings and Jones face up to life in prison when they are sentenced July 23 for aggravated murder, murder, improperly discharging a firearm into a habitation, attempted murder, and four counts of felonious assault, along with eight gun specifications.

They fired 16 shots through the first-floor patio doors of an apartment where the two young victims were lying on the floor, asleep on a comforter. Prosecutors said Jennings and Jones intended to shoot a rival gang member they believed was on their territory, but got the wrong apartment.

Moore said he drove the get-away vehicle and picked up Jones and Jennings on nearby Vermont Street after the shooting.