Home / Crime and Justice / Akron Man Pleads Guilty in Second Fatal Shooting
Akron Man Pleads Guilty in Second Fatal Shooting
11 Sep
Summary
- DeShawn Stafford pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter and cocaine trafficking.
- Stafford was also previously found guilty in the beating death of Ethan Liming.
- Hutchinson was killed by a stray bullet during a shootout between Stafford and Thomas.
DeShawn Stafford, 24, has pleaded guilty to charges including involuntary manslaughter and cocaine trafficking related to the 2025 death of Timothy Hutchinson. This plea occurred on September 11, 2026, just days before his scheduled jury trial. Stafford also faces charges for discharging a firearm and possessing weapons while under disability.
Hutchinson, 25, was killed on October 5, 2025, in Highland Square when he was struck by a bullet during a gunfight. Prosecutors stated that Stafford, armed with a gun, chased Emahni Thomas. Thomas, firing back at Stafford, inadvertently hit Hutchinson, who was positioned between them. Hutchinson later died from his injuries.
Stafford is no stranger to fatal encounters, as he was previously found guilty in the beating death of 17-year-old Ethan Liming. Emahni Thomas has also accepted a plea bargain for her involvement in Hutchinson's death and is scheduled for sentencing on October 22, 2026.
Investigators also recovered a significant quantity of cocaine, 800 grams, during a search of Stafford's residence. The court is expected to sentence Stafford on his recent guilty pleas.
