The last of the 7 people accused in the death of a pregnant woman pleads guilty

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A 21-year-old Akron man pleaded guilty Thursday to his role in the shooting death of a pregnant woman, according to the Summit County Prosecutor’s Office.

Lenier Worthy pleaded guilty to two counts of manslaughter, two counts of firearm specification and two counts of improperly handling a firearm in a motor vehicle.

Proposed agreement: An Akron man pleads guilty to involvement in the shooting that killed a pregnant woman

He will be sentenced by Summit County Common Pleas Court Judge Alison McCarty at 10 a.m. on November 22.

“This was a difficult case in which an innocent pregnant woman was shot and killed because two groups of people used guns to settle a dispute,” Summit County Prosecutor Elliot Kolkovich said in a news release. “Summit County is safer with these people locked up.”

He is the last of seven men to agree to plea deals in connection with the death of 21-year-old Teyaurra Harris, who was six weeks pregnant.

What happened during the shooting?

The incident occurred on the evening of April 14, 2022, when four men – Darrion Rackley, 20, Zyeir Saunders, 20, Antonil Whitaker, 17, and Jeremiah Williams, 21 – parked on Rockaway Street in Akron.

At the same time, Worthy was dating three other men – 19-year-old Jaunte Smith, 21-year-old Jaevaiaire Small and 18-year-old Ni’Kayla Johnson.

Harris was a passenger in a vehicle parked near both groups. Saunders, Witacker and Rackley began firing, striking Johnson twice in the leg. Thinking the shots were coming from the vehicle, Worthy, Small and Smith began shooting.

Harris was hit in the head and died. Investigators determined that Worthy fired the bullets that killed Harris, according to a press release from the Summit County District Attorney’s Office.

What happened to each defendant?

Rackley received 34 to 39 1/2 years in prison, while Whitacker and Williams received 20 to 24 years after pleading guilty to charges of manslaughter, criminal assault and weapons specification.

Saunders pleaded guilty to manslaughter and two counts of criminal assault. He was sentenced to 20 to 24 years in prison.

Small received four years in prison after pleading guilty to aggravated assault, having a disabled weapon and carrying a concealed weapon.

Smith received 2.5 years in prison after pleading guilty to aggravated assault.

Bryce Buyakie covers courts and public safety for the Beacon Journal. He can be reached at [email protected] or on X, formerly known as Twitter, @bryce_buyakie.