4 charges dismissed for teen accused of shooting into group

9/18/2013

A Lucas County Common Pleas judge today acquitted a Toledo woman of four of the five counts of felonious assault for which she is on trial this week.

Judge Dean Mandros granted a motion by defense attorney Ronnie Wingate to acquit Mecca Canty, 18, of 1812 Brame Pl., of the four counts, which each carried firearms specifications. One count of felonious assault with a firearms specification remains for the jury to consider.

Ms. Canty was charged with firing a gun into a group of girls on Isherwood Avenue last Sept. 23, striking one and shattering her shoulder.

Judge Mandros said that while the victim testified and identified Ms. Canty as the shooter, there was not enough evidence or testimony to support charges she fired at the other girls in the group.

Prosecutors allege Ms. Canty, who was 17 at the time of the shooting, shot at the group in retaliation for a member of their gang shooting her in the leg nine days earlier. Today, Ms. Canty’s cousin, Loundon Ridley, told the jury Ms. Canty was with her Sept. 23 and could not have committed the offense.

The jury heard closing arguments and began deliberations just after 11 a.m.