Akron - – Summit County Prosecutor Sherri Bevan Walsh announced today that Summit County Common Pleas Court Judge Alison McCarty sentenced Donyea Tyus, 30, of Lucy Street in Akron, and Orlando Tyus, 28, of Ira Avenue in Akron, to LIFE IN PRISON without parole, for the murders of two people.
On July 19, 2019 a Summit County jury found both defendants guilty of the following charges:
- Two Counts of Aggravated Murder with Gun Specifications – Special Felonies
- Two Counts of Murder with Gun Specifications – Special Felonies
- Two Counts of Felonious Assault – Felonies of the 2nd degree
- Having a Weapon Under Disability – a Felony of 3rd degree
“This ruthless act left two innocent people dead. Bonn and Robert were loved by their family. The pain of their loss will never go away,” said Prosecutor Walsh. “I am pleased knowing these two cold-blooded killers will be in prison the rest of their lives. The community is safer with them locked up.”
During the early morning hours of July 7th, 2018, the Tyus brothers, along with 21-year-old Cheyenne James, drove around Akron with the intent of killing random people. The motive was possibly to initiate themselves into a new gang.
At approximately 3:30 a.m. on July 7th, 2018, outside 649 Schiller Avenue in Akron, the Tyus brothers and Cheyenne James parked on the street and waited in their car. 46-year-old Bonn Rassavong and his brother Conn were leaving a house after visiting family and walked toward the parked car. The Tyus brothers got out of their car and started shooting. Orlando fired multiple times killing Bonn Rassavong, while Donyea pointed his gun and attempted to shoot Conn but the gun malfunctioned and did not fire. Cheyenne James remained in the vehicle during the incident.
The trio then drove to the area of Arlington Street in Akron with the intent of having Donyea Tyus shoot and kill the next victim. Donyea confronted 58-year-old Robert McCall and shot him in the head. McCall died from his injuries.
At approximately 5 a.m. at 6th Avenue and Minordy Alley, the three lured Christina Heppe into an alley. Cheyenne James then pointed a gun to Heppe’s head but the gun malfunctioned and did not fire. Heppe was able to escape.
Eventually, Cheyenne James was questioned by Akron Police and confessed to the entire incident.
On February 13, 2019, Cheyenne James pled guilty to the full indictment, a charge of felonious assault, a felony of the 2nd degree. Summit County Common Pleas Court Judge Joy Malek Oldfield is scheduled to sentence James on August 5th, 2019.
Photos courtesy of the Summit County Prosecutor
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