CLEVELAND — A man charged in the fatal shooting of a 39-year-old woman over the weekend had a documented history of violence against her, including a prior attempt on her life, court records reveal.
Authorities have identified the suspect as 41-year-old Corey Sanders, who is currently on parole and has an extensive criminal record spanning multiple states. The victim, Briekethia Pruitt, was discovered with fatal gunshot wounds inside a vehicle on Judson Avenue near East 147th Street early Sunday morning.
Investigators linked Sanders to the crime after determining the vehicle was registered in his name and cellphone data placed him at the scene around the time the vehicle was abandoned. According to police, Sanders and Pruitt had been living together, and he was the last known person to see her alive.
At his arraignment Wednesday, prosecutors described Sanders as a repeat offender with a lengthy felony history across multiple states. His criminal record dates back to at least 2005, including drug possession in Illinois, multiple battery charges, and a 2008 assault on his disabled mother in Cleveland. In that incident, he was convicted of felonious assault and robbery and sentenced to two years in prison.
Following his release, Sanders was arrested in Michigan in 2011 for possessing a stolen firearm and drugs while on parole for his prior offenses. Federal authorities reported he was carrying heroin and crack cocaine, which he admitted he intended to sell. He was sentenced to eight years in federal prison after accepting a plea deal for illegal firearm possession.
Court documents reveal that Pruitt previously accused Sanders of attempted murder in March 2020. She reported to Cleveland police that Sanders had assaulted and strangled her inside her home, striking her with a firearm. Officers at the scene recovered a bullet casing, a handgun, and a bullet hole in the couch that contained Pruitt’s hair. She suffered multiple injuries, including lacerations to her lip, neck, and head.
Sanders was indicted on six felony counts, including attempted murder and aggravated burglary. However, in November 2021, he reached a plea agreement, reducing his charges to attempted felonious assault and burglary. He was sentenced to four years in prison with credit for time served.
While incarcerated, Sanders claimed he was working toward a degree in social work, citing a desire to help veterans and at-risk youth. Defense filings from previous cases detailed his troubled upbringing, alleging childhood abuse, neglect, and a history of mental health struggles.
In October 2023, Sanders was released from prison and placed under post-release supervision. Prosecutors said he was also on active federal probation at the time of Pruitt’s murder.
He was taken into custody Monday in Garfield Heights and is currently being held in the Cuyahoga County Jail on a $2 million cash bond. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for February 18.