I-77 murder case to get second trial in July after jurors could not reach verdict
A new trial date was set on Tuesday for two Akron men accused of ordering and carrying out the deadly Interstate 77 shooting that killed 23-year-old Marquise Banks in 2023.
Jury selection for defendants Ahmere Williams, 21, and Sirvonte Suggs, 19, will start July 11. Openings are tentatively expected to be delivered July 14.
Following their first trial in early January, a jury found Suggs guilty of having weapons under disability, which means he had a weapon when he was legally prohibited from having one. Jurors could not reach a verdict for any of their other charges.
Retrial: Court may have to retry I-77 shooting case after Summit County jury can't reach verdicts
Williams still faces aggravated murder, murder, felony murder and felonious assault charges with associated firearm specifications, which can result in additional prison time if found guilty.
Suggs faces aggravated murder, murder, felony murder, felonious assault and discharge of a firearm over a public roadway, plus associated firearm and driveby shooting specifications.
Attorneys Jeff Laybourne and Noah Munyer represent Williams, who is charged in two other murder cases. Attorney John Greven represents Suggs.
A third defendant in the I-77 shooting case, Giovanni Porter, is charged with murder and felonious assault, but he pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter and a firearm specification in exchange for his testimony in the first trial.
Attorney Imokhai Okolo was retained to represent Porter, but on Tuesday, Okolo requested he be removed from the case. Porter then requested a court-appointed defense attorney.
Presiding over the case is Summit County Court of Common Pleas Court Judge Kelly McLaughlin.
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: Second murder trial of Marquise Banks scheduled for July
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