Horrific Murder In Cleveland

Mob Chases Man, Beats Him To Death, Urinates On Him And Steals His Clothes

(AP)  Even by tough, urban-crime standards it was a grisly attack: Up to 15 people chased a man, then kicked and beat him to death on the street. Before police arrived, one attacker urinated on the victim's head.

When the crime-hardened neighborhood awoke later that morning, two people reported a man lying on the pavement, his clothes being dragged off by his assailants.

"You got a male being assaulted by 15 other guys. He's laying on the street," one 911 caller said.

The April 27 attack on Charles Gooden Jr. happened in the most murder-ridden neighborhood in one of the nation's poorest cities. But it was also within a 10-minute drive of the city's skyscrapers, sports venues and tourist attractions.

Three suspects have been charged with aggravated murder. Police have not mentioned a motive, but they expect more arrests.

It wasn't always dangerous along East 117th Street, where the tulips bloom late because of the cool winds blowing off Lake Erie just a mile to the north.

"It used to be so quiet, and we were so blessed to live on 117th Street," said Irene Bennett, 78, who has lived there for 40 years. She is so used to gunfire and loud outbursts at night that she slept through the commotion of Gooden's slaying.

In retirement, she and her husband had hoped to enjoy simple pleasures: watching people pass by and planting flowers around their neatly kept home. But the violence in the neighborhood makes that impossible.

"You pay for your home. You work hard. You retire, and you want to enjoy, just come out on your porch and ... wait for the summertime to come," she said, shaking her head.

The attackers sent word that anyone helping police could face retribution, according to City Councilman Kevin Conwell. He described the assailants as gang members.

Conwell said the motive was based on an argument involving a woman and a threat by her cousin against Gooden, 41.

"He went to defend his malehood honor. He hit the cousin in the mouth. When that happened, the other gang members jumped on him," said Conwell, relying on information from police and neighbors.

Charged in the slaying were Latangia Anderson, 23, Johnny Brown, 20, and Paris Moore, 19, all of Cleveland. They were each jailed on $1 million bond.

None of the three defendants was able to afford an attorney. The lawyers appointed to represent them all said they could not comment on the case.

After the attack, a memorial of stuffed animals took shape outside the Bennett house because the slaying scene doesn't have a tree to anchor the display.

The display has dwindled but still has a stuffed dog with the label "Puppy love" and another with Gooden's nickname, Bud, written on it, according to Bennett, who knew Gooden when he was a youngster visiting an uncle down the street.

The uncle's house is now boarded up, along with many other neighborhood homes left dilapidated by poverty and drugs. There are a few newly renovated homes and two newer ones, one with barred windows. But in the once-lively commercial district around the corner, most stores are closed, except for a few barbershops or storefront churches.

The neighborhood is Cleveland's murder capital, according to police spokesman Lt. Thomas Stacho, and outsiders driving the streets risk getting pegged as people looking to buy crack cocaine.

Still, Gooden's death unnerved people here, including the 911 callers.

"They're stomping somebody and ripping their clothes off. You need to come," another caller said. "Like 15 of them beating the hell out of him."

The emergency dispatcher asked if an ambulance should be sent. "You better bring a stretcher, too," the caller replied. "Please hurry."

[apprxam]

Ohio State AG, being investigated and resigned, Cuyahoga County Recorder, being investigated and resigned. What the heck is goingon in Ohio. This Cleveland neighborhood is a sympton of a pathological political climate that permeates the entire state.

Prosecute all of these jack*sses and clean sh*t up in Steubenville and Youngstown and start all over. No wonder the cities of Cleveland, Columbus and Cincinnati are dying and no one can think of ways to get jobs back, innovate and create new ways of governing and, finally, changing to culture and educational attainmant of those left in this toilet of a state.

[apprxam]

Race no matter, throw the book at em.

[ranger1948]

pfd572
I apolofize i misunderstood your statemnet when i read it the first time. I thik you and i are on the same page.

[ranger1948]

pfd572
Have you checked the stawtistics on how many frunk drivers kill people each year ? I like the second ammenfment to carry adirearm. Id i had come across this incident i would have taken out as many gang members as i could hit. I still think the victim was stupid for putting himself in that situation, but they had no right to kill him.

[algoresarse]

And let''''s stop cops from being nuisances, ticketing all the poor, unfortunate drunk drivers, road racers, excessive speeder and road rage souls. After all, traffic stops are just an easy way out of doing their real jobs, giving you fodder for your unbelievable comments. And who were these people hurting? Just families killed in accidents caused by all these LAW BREAKERS. (btw, traffic stops are the most nerve wracking and dangerous part of an officers patrol).



Posted by pfd572 at 08:19 PM : May 14, 2008
+ report abuse


*****************

let me guess you a poor black young adult who has this knack of making the wrong decisions in life.

[algoresarse]

Posted by pfd572 at 07:43 PM : May 14, 2008
+ report abuse

**********
why dont you live and pay taxes in liberal california..

[whatinthewld]

Oh really! you and your side kick right wingers like Rick are always in here pushing YOUR brand of deity at every opportunity, you start out blaming the supposed lack of your specific deity and book of death in the SCHOOLS as being THE CAUSE of all of today''''s problems.
Everyone here has the right to comment on any story and any comments here to them dude, that include *ME*

newster1, my friend - You''re right, everyone has the right to make a comment including *YOU* who thinks yourself to be high and mighty.
You also seem to think you must correct everyone, pushing and knocking everyone around who doesn''t think just like *YOU*.
I don''t recall seeing anyone be able to have an intelligent conversation or discussion with you here yet, and I see you making comments on a regular basis.

So tell me........is removing guns going to keep people from murdering? I wonder if there is a statistic out there telling us the amounts of gun murders vs. other methods. Do you or anyone out there know?
newster1 - This was one subject that I mentioned. I don''t care if you have right wings or left wings on your shoulders, such topics aught to be discussed with some decency. Give it a try newster1 ;-)

Others are welcome to comment on this. It may be a little over newster1''s head.

[ranger1948]

dmyers110808
Only problem with leaving them there is they also make innocent people victims.

[ranger1948]

pfd572
I am retired law enforcement and i am strongly for the death penalty for certain crimes. I believe it is a deterent in the fact that the person is no longer there to commit crimes again. They didn''t care about their victims rights so why should they have any. As far as executing innocent people since the appeals process takes forever in death penalty cases i think it is rare n innocent person is executed.

[lefeaoux]

From the mouth of a Revered BLACK MAN! You MUST watch this video if you support Hussein Obama!!!

http://www.youtube.com/user/ATLAHWorldwide



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http://www.eyeblast.tv/Public/Video.aspx?rsrcID=2036