Community demands justice after Damia Ezell murder indictments

TOLEDO, Ohio (WTVG) — Eight months after 10-year-old Damia Ezell was fatally shot in a drive-by shooting in Toledo, officials have charged three people in connection with the murder.

Dearryl Cornelious, Byron Cleveland and Carmanetta Wilson were indicted by a grand jury on Tuesday.

Since that announcement, some people in Toledo have relived the devastating incident.

“It’s a sad situation that the young have to die because the old don’t know how to act,” said Lizzie Horton, a friend of the Ezell family. “I think they should go to jail for life, they took a life, a young life. They didn’t give this kid a chance to grow,” Horton said.

After Damia’s death, the community came together, holding vigils and painting a mural. Toledo residents say the mural is important because it evokes emotion and causes the viewer to ask important questions.

“How could this happen? Was there anyone who could have prevented this? What decisions were made that put her in the crosshairs? How do we protect our little ones? do as a community to prevent this from happening,” said Merce Culp, a community art teacher in Toledo.

The Toledo City Council contributed $10,000 to Ezell’s reward fund months ago, hoping someone would come forward.

“The truth is, it doesn’t take a penny to do the right thing. It’s the truth,” Councilman John Hobbs said. “We won’t rest until all the alleged perpetrators of this are brought to justice. And then we want to be judged, and then we want to be convicted. And we hope that everyone who played a part in this will be brought to justice,” Hobbs said.

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