Who is Na’kia Crawford? LeBron James brings attention to slain Ohio teen
NBA star LeBron James is bringing attention to the case of a teen shot dead in his hometown of Akron, Ohio, last week.
On Tuesday, the four-time league MVP demanded justice in the death of Na’kia Crawford, a recent high school graduate shot and killed at a stoplight while running errands with her grandmother Sunday.
No arrests have been made, but the Summit County Crimestoppers are offering a $50,000 reward in the murder investigation, WOIO reported.
“Nah, we ain’t letting it slow down!!!” James wrote on Twitter, responding to a user who complained about the lack of attention being paid to Crawford’s death.
“No sir, not me. Somebody know something for sure,” the basketball star added, concluding his message with the hashtag #JUSTICE4Nakia.”
Authorities said Crawford, a graduate of North High School in Akron, was driving with her grandma Sunday afternoon when she stopped at a red light in the Cascade Valley neighborhood, according to Cleveland.com. That’s when a “black sports car with tinted windows” stopped behind her before pulling alongside Crawford’s car and firing several shots, the outlet reported, citing Akron police Deputy Chief Jesse Leeser.
Crawford, 18, was rushed to a hospital where she died. Authorities said her grandmother wasn’t harmed in the shooting.
At a news conference Tuesday, Leeser said there were reports that the shooter is a white male, though that information hasn’t been confirmed.
Police have released photos of the car thought to be involved in the deadly shooting.
“Somebody knows something,” Leeser said, urging the public to come forward with information that might lead to an arrest, CNN reported.
Akron Mayor Dan Horrigan decried Crawford’s killing, calling it “senseless.”
“These events are extremely real and important to me and to the Akron Police detectives investigating Na’kia’s death,” Horrigan said, according to WOIO. “I feel that it is essential to say clearly and loudly: Black lives matter. Na’kia Crawford’s life mattered.”
Crawford was set to attend Central State University in the fall, Cleveland.com reported.
“Now, because of a tragic act, incomprehensible violence, the future she dreamed of was stolen from her, and she deserves justice,” Horrigan added, according to the outlet.
Crawford’s family donated $20,000 to the Crimestoppers $5,000 reward, CNN reported. Another $25,000 was gifted from Dr. Cliff Deveny, president and CEO of Summa Health.
A GoFundMe page launched on Crawford’s behalf had raised more than $9,400 as of Wednesday.
Like James, several have taken to social media to call for justice for the slain teen.
Anyone with information on the shooting is asked to contact the Akron Police Department Detective Bureau at 330-375-2490 or Crimestoppers at 330-434-2677.