Toledo teen acquitted of 5 counts in shooting case

9/19/2013

A Lucas County Common Pleas judge acquitted an alleged gang member of four felonious assault charges Wednesday morning, and a jury acquitted her of the fifth one in the afternoon.

Mecca Canty, 18, of 1812 Brame Pl., who prosecutors said was a member of the Charge Girls gang, had been on trial for allegedly firing into a group of rival Gotti Girls on Sept. 23, 2012, on Isherwood Avenue. Tiajah Wilson, 17, was shot in the right shoulder.

Frank Spryszak, an assistant county prosecutor, told the jury Ms. Canty had been attacked and shot in the leg Sept. 14, 2012, leading her to fire at them in retaliation nine days later.

“Miss Canty was the victim of gang violence, and rather than allowing the criminal justice system to go forward and handle it, she decided to continue the revolving door of gang violence that plagues the streets of Toledo,” he said.

Before the jury heard closing arguments, though, Judge Dean Mandros granted a motion by defense attorney Ronnie Wingate to acquit Ms. Canty on four of the five felonious assault counts, saying though Ms. Wilson had testified and identified Ms. Canty as the shooter, there was not enough evidence to show Ms. Canty had intended to shoot at the other girls on the street or even where the gun was pointed at the time it was fired.

The jury deliberated about four hours before returning a not guilty verdict about 3 p.m. on the sole remaining count of felonious assault with a firearms specification, which pertained to the shooting of Ms. Wilson.