16-year-old indicted in shooting death of pizza delivery driver

8/6/2018

Machello Jackson, 16, who was not identified in photographs while in juvenile court, appears in court for his probable cause hearing in Lucas County Juvenile Court on July 16, 2018. Jackson is charged in the death of Sadari Knighten, who fatally shot on Hoag while delivering a pizza.

The Blade/Amy E. Voigt
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A 16-year-old who was certified to stand trial in the murder of a pizza delivery driver was indicted Monday by a Lucas County grand jury.

Machello Jackson was indicted on charges of aggravated murder, aggravated robbery, and felonious assault, each with accompanying gun specifications, in the June 5 shooting death of Sadari Knighten, 28, of Toledo.

Investigators say Miss Knighten had made a delivery for Happy's Pizza in the 800 block of Hoag Street just after 11 p.m. when she was approached in her car by two young men who planned to rob her.

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The Jackson youth allegedly went to the driver's side door and demanded money. When Miss Knighten began reaching, she was shot in the chest.

Police said the Jackson youth, who is being held at the Lucas County Juvenile Detention Center, told investigators he got 75 cents in the hold-up.

Miss Knighten died at ProMedica Toledo Hospital, according to police. An autopsy performed by the Lucas County Coroner’s office determined she died of a single gunshot wound to the chest.