Fourth suspect indicted in murder-for-hire at fake gender-reveal party in Ohio
CINCINNATI – An Ohio man has been charged in connection with the shooting at a fake gender-reveal party that killed one person and injured eight in Colerain Township in 2017.
Vandell Slade, 30, of Columbus has been charged with murder, attempted murder and felonious assault, according to an indictment filed Wednesday in Hamilton County Common Pleas Court.
There is a warrant out for Slade's arrest. Slade should be considered armed and dangerous, police said.
Three other men were charged in the shooting in December.
On July 8, 2017, Autum Garrett, 22, was shot and killed at a supposed gender-reveal party for Cheyanne Willis, who was 21. Colerain police eventually determined they were dealing with witnesses who had connections to more than one drug ring.
Willis told the media that she lost her fetus after being shot in the thigh. But a week later, police announced Willis had admitted she had not been pregnant. Slade's charges also stem from injuries Willis suffered in the shooting.
Prosecutors say Willis was the target of the shooting.
According to court documents, Roshawn Bishop and another man wanted her dead and "enlisted the help of Vandell Slade."
Slade produced two shooters-for-hire: James Echols and Michael Sanon, both from Columbus, officials said. Slade drove the two men to Willis' home the night of the mass shooting, the documents state.
"Echols and Sanon opened the screen door to the living room ... and opened fire with the intent to kill everyone inside," prosecutors said.
Garrett was fatally shot three times. Her husband was shot in the head and wrist, lost his eyesight in one eye and suffered brain damage. The couple's 1-year-old child was shot in the knee and arm. Their 3-year-old was shot in his calf and his head. Both children survived.
An 8-year-old was also among the victims, along with Elijah Clemmons, Lori White and Morgan Bradley.
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Willis, the alleged target, was shot once in the left thigh.
Police said the shooting was sparked by drug activity. Police also reported there were no indications the Garrett family was connected to the drug activity that sparked the shootings. It was a case of wrong place, wrong time.
Here are the other men charged in the shooting:
James Echols, 23. He faces charges including aggravated murder, aggravated burglary, nine counts of felonious assault and eight counts of attempted murder.
Michael Sanon, 21. He also faces charges of aggravated murder, aggravated burglary and multiple counts of felonious assault and attempted murder.
Roshawn Bishop, 28. He is charged with murder, felonious assault and attempted murder. Bishop was already in prison on drug trafficking charges when he was charged in this case.
Slade as convicted of weapons charges and attempted felonious assault in 2008.
When asked if others could be charged, Colerain Township Police Chief Mark Denney said the investigation is continuing and declined to comment further.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Fake gender-reveal party: Fourth man indicted in Ohio murder-for-hire
