Survivors speak at Akron man's sentencing in shootout that followed year of harassment
Seared into Kayla Holt's mind is the afternoon Jason Turkovich shot her three times. Those bullets led to multiple surgeries, life-threatening injuries and internal damage that has left her forever changed.
Despite the physical and mental injuries, she said the image of Turkovich standing over her niece and pointing a gun at her head had caused more pain than anything else.
"He shot her once, and then by the grace of God, the police came," Holt said.
Plea: Akron man pleads guilty for second time in shooting that followed yearlong harassment
Holt was one of three survivors of a shootout with Turkovich who described how he changed their lives nearly two years ago on July 30, 2022. They spoke at his sentencing Thursday morning in Summit County Common Pleas Judge Kathryn Michael's courtroom.
Michael sentenced Turkovich to 12 to 15 years in prison for wounding two people, including Holt, and shooting at a third person who intervened in the dispute.
He was sentenced on two felonious assault charges, a 3-year firearm specification and having weapons while under disability. He could owe one survivor $3,400 in restitution. He also will serve 1½ to 3 years of parole.
Yearlong harassment culminates in shooting
Assistant Summit County Prosecutor Dan Sallerson told the court Thursday that Teasijah Rogers had endured harassment for nearly a year leading up to the shooting.
During that time, Turkovich, jumped at Rogers with a knife, turned the electricity off in her apartment and nailed the door to her apartment shut after dumping gasoline on the floor and furniture, Sallerson explained, giving a few examples of the harassment.
Eventually, Rogers left her home because she felt unsafe.
"These cases always feel like they focus on the defendant," Sallerson said. "It was a tragedy what happened to the three victims."
The day Rogers was shot, Turkovich wore a tactical vest and charged outside to protect a friend who Sallerson said was not being threatened. A verbal altercation ensued. Then Turkovich fired his gun.
Coming to the aid of Rogers and Holt, Cheyann Balas pulled out her firearm and returned fire. Neither Balas nor Turkovich was struck in the exchange of fire.
A lasting toll
Despite surviving the incident, all three women described how they have suffered ongoing mental and physical pain.
For Balas, the post-traumatic stress from the shooting makes her feel as if someone is always behind her with a firearm. Loud noises set her anxiety off.
Rogers was shot once in the buttocks and the leg. Now she has a steel rod in her leg. She, too, has PTSD.
Holt's wounds resulted in damage to her intestines that could not be fully repaired, she said. Her last surgery was 15 hours long. She often throws up food and drink and is at a high risk of dehydration. Every night she is hooked up to a feeding bag.
"Each day I wake up and am constantly in pain," said Holt, who was 34 at the time of the shooting. "The doctor says I'll have this the rest of my life."
Between the pain and lasting damage, Holt is in a wheelchair and often can't take her toddler to the park.
Michael spoke directly to the survivors during and after their statements. She described Balas as a "hero."
"You are a blessing" to Holt and Rogers, Michael said.
Turkovich addresses the survivors
Attorneys Christopher Parker and Kerry O'Brien agreed to defend Turkovich earlier this year. His first attorney withdrew his counsel after Turkovich motioned to withdraw a guilty plea he agreed to two days into a jury trial.
In late March, his attorneys motioned to withdraw the guilty plea withdrawal.
"I came into this case late, and I have spent some significant time with Mr. Turkovich," Parker said Thursday. "Unsolicited, he mentioned in the presentence investigation 'I wish that this did not happen. It has caused trauma for all involved. We have lost a lot.'"
Turkovich reiterated this in his statement to the survivors and their families.
"I am deeply sorry that this happened," he said. "When I came outside that day, I was in fear of my friend's life. I never wished for anyone to get hurt."
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: Jason Turkovich sentenced in shooting that followed year of harassment
