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Crime & Safety

Cleveland Police Still Search For Wanzo Shooter

Death of Lakewood High School senior still under investigation.

Cleveland police have no suspects and are still investigating the early morning April 15 shooting death of senior , said Cleveland police Det. Jennifer Ciaccia.

According to the police report, the shooting was not alcohol, drug or gang-related, nor was it a hate crime. The police report gives the following account: 

Wanzo, 18, was shot in the forehead at Bosworth Road and Linnet Avenue on Cleveland’s west side while sitting in a vehicle at around 2 a.m.

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Wanzo and Stephen Kmetz, 19, of Brookpark, left the party at the 3500 block of Bosworth in Kmetz’s black Dodge Avenger. After traveling north on Bosworth, Kmetz said Wanzo decided to return to the party.

Kmetz told police he turned around at Linnet and backed out to return on Bosworth. Three witnesses said they saw a man fire a gun into the passenger’s side of the car. Two of the witnesses described the shooter as dressed in a black jacket and black pants run from the scene north on Bosworth and west on Governor. 

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Covered in blood and fearing he might be shot, Kmetz said he sped away south on Bosworth Avenue and turned right on Thrush. He got out of the car and ran west on Thrush because he was afraid the shooter might chase him. He returned to the scene of the shooting when police, EMS and fire arrived.

Wanzo was taken to MetroHealth Medical Center where he was pronounced dead at 5:43 a.m., according to cleveland.com. Kmetz was unable to describe the shooter.

Since the shooting, Lakewood students have held , personal notes and candles. Students also raised pay for funeral arrangements.

Wanzo’s memorial service was held on April 20.

Anyone with information about the shooting is encouraged to call the the Homicide Unit at 216-623-5464. 

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