Bay Village shooting suspect also charged with murder, police say

CLEVELAND, Ohio – Bay Village police said the suspect in a shooting at a park last month was arrested days later by Cleveland police and accused of murder in a separate incident.

Police from Bay, Westlake and Rocky River responded to Reese Park at 9:16 p.m. on July 16 after reports of gunfire. Upon arrival, police said, officers found that several men playing basketball had been fighting, with a single gunshot fired. No one was injured or arrested after the incident, police said.

Ledon Howard III, 21, of Cleveland was indicted by a Cuyahoga County grand jury on Monday and charged with felonious assault with a firearm specification involving the shooting, police said. He is scheduled to appear in court next week.

On July 24, Cleveland police arrested Howard, according to court records. In the Cleveland case, he is charged with aggravated murder, attempted murder and felonious assault. His bond was set for $1 million, and his case is before Common Pleas Judge Ashley Kilbane, according to court records.

The records indicate that Howard is accused of killing Dyeshawn L. Smith, 24, of Cleveland on July 9. Smith had been shot in the back on East 112th Street and Benham Avenue, police said.

Following the shooting in Bay Village, officials removed the rims of the basketball hoops “in an abundance of caution,” police said.

Some residents were upset with the city’s decision to close the courts.

Posters were hung on the fence of the basketball court that read, “Let us play.” The park remained open to the public.