Akron man is third person to plead guilty in deadly 2022 New Year's Eve shooting
A 19-year-old Akron man pleaded guilty to reduced charges one week before he was set to go on trial in the 2022 New Year's Eve fatal shooting of 34-year-old Damarcus Hartwell.
Layveire Belton pleaded guilty to aggravated robbery, a first-degree felony, and a three-year firearm specification, which could result in additional prison time. He initially also faced one count of murder, but the state dismissed that as part of a plea deal, according to court documents.
New Year's Eve shooting: Man killed in Kenmore shooting on New Year's Eve identified
Two others — Nino Jennings and Makhi Anderson-Clay — pleaded guilty to the reduced charge of aggravated robbery in the case.
Summit County Common Pleas Court Judge Joy Malek Oldfield will sentence Belton, Jennings and Anderson-Clay on April 29 at 2 p.m.
The fourth person charged in Hartwell's death is Cameron Jones, who faces aggravated murder, two counts of murder, two counts of robbery and one count of robbery and felonious assault, according to court documents.
New Year's Eve fatal shooting just before 2023
Hartwell was shot just before midnight on New Year's Eve in 2022 at a home in the 1200 block of Louisiana Avenue in Kenmore.
He was shot once in the torso and had a graze wound to his thigh. He was taken to Cleveland Clinic Akron General where he was pronounced dead.
Attorney Erik Jones notified the court that his client, Jones, intends to argue self-defense in his jury trial slated to begin April 23.
Bryce Buyakie covers courts and public safety for the Beacon Journal. He can be reached by email at bbuyakie@gannett.com or on X, formerly known as Twitter, @bryce_buyakie.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Akron man pleads guilty in fatal New Year's Eve 2022 shooting
