Tamara McLoyd robbery spree trial to start Tuesday in Cleveland

Another trial featuring a woman recently convicted of shooting and killing an off-duty Cleveland police officer during a carjacking while she was on juvenile probation in Lorain County is scheduled to start in Cleveland on Tuesday. Tamara McLoyd and two co-defendants are scheduled to go on trial in Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Judge John O'Donnell's courtroom. According to the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor's Office, on Nov. 2, 2021, McLoyd, 19, Jada Hite, 19, and Jermaine Hagwood, 30, drove to Bunts Road in Lakewood and robbed a 22-year-old victim by pressing a gun to their back. They stole a debit card, a cellphone, jewelry and $105 in cash, then fled in Hite's car. That same night, just before 11 p.m., McLoyd, Hite and Hagwood again used Hite's car to drive to Happy's Pizza on Detroit Avenue in Cleveland. They went in the back door and robbed two victims, ages 25 and 32, as they were closing the restaurant for the night, police said. Holding guns, the robbers demanded money. Hagwood hit one of the victims in the head with the gun before the robbers stole $300 from the register. They then forced the employees into a back office and Hagwood hit them both with the gun. The trio of assailants then stole a handgun and car keys before fleeing again. Less than an hour later, McLoyd and Hagwood approached a 58-year-old woman as she walked home near Lee and Cedar roads in Cleveland Heights, held her at gunpoint and stole her purse, according to the prosecutor's office. Hite acted as the getaway driver. A nearby Cleveland Heights police officer saw it happen, then saw McLoyd and Hagwood get into the getaway car and speed off before the victim flagged down the officer. Cleveland Heights police searched the area, found the car and tried to stop it but Hite, Hagwood and McLoyd got away. Two days later, police said, Hagwood and Hite approached a 33-year-old victim on Edgewater Drive in Lakewood and robbed them at gunpoint, taking $60 in cash, a cellphone, a pair of earrings and a bottle of wine. Lakewood police again responded, and Hite was later arrested by Cleveland police, according to the prosecutor's office. On Dec. 11, 2021, Hagwood and an unknown person approached a 34-year-old woman holding her 5-year-old child near Arden Avenue and Mars Avenue in Lakewood, held her at gunpoint and stole her key fob and purse. They fled, the victim called police and Lakewood officers responded. The victim's key fob was found on the ground and DNA on it matched Hagwood. On Dec. 19, 2021, McLoyd and Hagwood rear-ended a parked car near Rosalie Avenue and Edgewater Drive in Lakewood. The driver, 23, got out of her car to check the damage when McLoyd and Hagwood pointed a gun at her, stole her purse and fled. Lakewood police found a lighter on the ground that had Hagwood's DNA on it. McLoyd was arrested by Cleveland police on Jan. 1, the day after she shot and killed off-duty Cleveland police Officer Shane Bartek during a carjacking. Hagwood was arrested by Cleveland police on Jan. 5. McLoyd is facing six counts of aggravated robbery, two counts of kidnapping, two counts of felonious assault, two counts of having weapons under disability and one count of improper handling of firearms in a motor vehicle. Hite is facing six counts of aggravated robbery, two counts of kidnapping, two counts of felonious assault, one count of improper handling of firearms in a motor vehicle and one count of failure to comply, all felonies. Hagwood faces eight counts of aggravated robbery, four counts of having weapons under disability, three counts of kidnapping, and two counts of felonious assault. Bartek's killing happened on Dec. 31, 2021, while McLoyd was on probation in Lorain County Juvenile Court following a robbery conviction. McLoyd was convicted of complicity to robbery and a firearms charge in Juvenile Court after she and two accomplices robbed a Kipton man at his home in October 2020. Judge Frank Janik sentenced her in October 2021 with the understanding she could go to an adult prison if she violated her probation. After she was charged in Bartek's killing, McLoyd was resentenced to an indefinite prison term of three to four years behind bars in May. A Cuyahoga County jury took only 90 minutes on Aug. 3 to find McLoyd guilty of robbing and killing Bartek. She faces a maximum sentence of life in prison without parole when she is sentenced later this year.