A tragic shooting on Cleveland’s East Side has claimed the life of a 15-year-old girl, who passed away two days after being wounded, according to a report from the Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority police.
The victim, identified as Shilynn Alford, was struck by gunfire around 11 p.m. on Saturday in the 6300 block of Woodland Avenue. The Cuyahoga County medical examiner’s office confirmed that she suffered a gunshot wound to the head.
Authorities have arrested a 16-year-old boy in connection with the incident. Police allege that the teen was “handling a firearm” when the shooting occurred. He faces charges of murder, felonious assault, and tampering with evidence, according to a spokesperson from the county prosecutor’s office. The suspect is currently being held at the Juvenile Detention Center.
This incident marks the 94th homicide in Cleveland this year, reflecting a significant decrease from the 151 homicides reported during the same period in the previous year—a reduction of nearly 38%.