A Cleveland woman accused in the fatal shooting of 25-year-old Kiara Jackson at Mill Creek Falls has been ordered held on $500,000 bond.
Lavia Paul, 23, appeared in court Thursday and entered a not-guilty plea to a murder charge in connection with the early morning shooting that took place Wednesday in Cleveland Metroparks’ Mill Creek Falls area, near Turney Road. At the time of the incident, court records show Paul was already on probation following a child endangerment conviction earlier this year.
According to Cleveland Metroparks Police Chief Kelly Stillman, Jackson had been part of a group that gathered at the park after spending Tuesday at another location. The park was closed at the time of the incident—officially shutting down at 11 p.m.—but the group reportedly arrived around 3 a.m. The shooting occurred shortly afterward.
“There was no altercation that we know of prior to the shooting,” Stillman said during a Thursday press conference.
Investigators were able to identify Paul as a suspect using witness statements, surveillance footage, and license plate readers that tracked her vehicle leaving the scene. She turned herself in to police around 7:40 p.m. Wednesday but declined to speak with detectives. Authorities have yet to recover the firearm believed to have been used.
Stillman confirmed that Paul and Jackson were acquainted, though the extent of their relationship remains unclear.
The case, he added, was quickly advanced due to collaborative work between the Metroparks Police, Cleveland Police, and other partner agencies. “When crimes like this happen, we can’t do everything alone,” he said.
Family Grieves Loss of Beloved Mother
As the investigation unfolded, Jackson’s family was left reeling from the devastating news.
Deshawnte Jackson, Kiara’s older sister, described how she awoke to a cryptic message before receiving the call that changed her life. “I just seen somebody say ‘I’m sorry,’ so I’m like, what are they talking about?” she recalled. Moments later, their mother confirmed Kiara had been killed.
Deshawnte remembers her sister as someone who brought warmth and positivity to their large family. “She was a fun person, really grounded, and never took sides. She was a good friend to all of us,” she said.
Kiara Jackson was the mother of two young children. Her family, heartbroken and searching for answers, said they are leaning on each other to get through the tragedy. “We’ve got a big family, and we’ll get through it. She was a good girl. I love her to death. I’m sorry it happened like this—senseless.”
The investigation is ongoing.