4 charged in connection with November homicide

5/14/2018

The attorney (left) Samuel Kaplan with his client Lonzo Rivers Sr., who is accused of fatally shooting Dakoda Rogers.

THE BLADE/ALLISON DUNN
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Four South Toledo men were indicted Monday in connection with the November shooting death of a 25-year-old man who tried to escape by driving away from the scene. 

The four — Lonzo Rivers, Sr., 32, of the 5000 block of Brandon Road; Brandon Stein, 35, of the 1400 block of Colton Street; Daniel Matney, 33, of the 2300 block of Dunham Street; and Mark Diebert, 33, of the 1400 block of South Avenue — were indicted by a Lucas County grand jury on charges of aggravated murder, murder, aggravated robbery, and kidnapping in the death of Dakoda Rogers.

Mr. Rogers, of the 6000 block of Van Wormer Drive, was shot twice in the chest, with one bullet going through his right arm, during an incident in a parking lot at South Avenue and Spencer Street on Nov. 20. He attempted to flee in his vehicle, but he struck another vehicle and a building, according to Toledo police.  

Mr. Rogers later died at the University of Toledo Medical Center, the former Medical College of Ohio hospital, police said. The Lucas County Coroner’s Office ruled the death a homicide. 

On Nov. 28, a murder warrant was issued for Rivers’ arrest. Police said Rivers eluded investigators for nearly five months. 

Earlier this month, Rivers still the lone suspect charged in the North Toledo man’s death. Jeff Lingo, chief of the criminal division of the Lucas County Prosecutor’s Office, declined to comment Monday on what led to the indictment of the three others in the case.

He was located at a residence in the 400 block of Boston Place in the city’s center, Deputy U.S. Marshal Alex Rutter said. 

Mr. Rogers’ family described him as a caring, fun-loving man who always put family first. He avoided confrontation, they said. 

Rivers’ family previously declined to comment. The Blade was unable to reach family of the other suspects. 

Contact Allison Dunn at adunn@theblade.com, 419-724-6506 or on Twitter @AllisonDBlade.