Ethan Liming Trial Day One

On June 2, 2022, four teens, including Ethan Liming,17, pulled up to the basketball courts at the LeBron James, I Promise School, in Akron, Ohio. Two teens exited the vehicle and started firing a SplatRBall water bead blaster gel gun toward a group of four people playing basketball. This led to a confrontation between the two groups and a fight ensued. Ethan Liming was knocked to the ground, was unresponsive, and continued to be beaten resulting in Ethan's death.

Three people were eventually charged brothers DeShawn, 20, Tyler, 19, Stafford, and their cousin, Donovon Jones, 21. The three men were charged with murder, but a Summit County grand jury indicted all three on lesser charges. The Stafford brothers were charged with involuntary manslaughter. Donovon Jones pleaded guilty to two misdemeanor counts of assault and received a 180-day suspended jail sentence.

The Stafford brothers' trial started on September 15, 2023. Their trial was held together with each brother having their own attorney.