Lorain teen charged with Elyria High School freshman's killing

A Lorain teen has been charged in Lorain County Common Pleas Court with shooting and killing Elyria High School freshman Shayne Edwards Jr. during a drive-by shooting in Elyria in September. Hezekiah Shepard, 17, of East 32nd Street, was indicted Thursday by a Lorain County grand jury on 17 criminal charges including murder, felonious assault, improperly discharging a firearm at or into a habitation or school safety zone, discharge of a firearm on or near prohibited premises, participating in a criminal gang, tampering with evidence, having weapons under disability, improperly handling firearms in a motor vehicle and carrying a concealed weapon, all felonies. There also are multiple firearms, drive-by shooting and criminal gang specifications on the charges that could send Shepard to prison for additional mandatory time if convicted. The case has yet to be assigned to a Common Pleas Court judge and an initial court appearance was not listed in online records. Shepard was being held in the Lorain County Juvenile Detention Home. The Lorain County Prosecutor's Office successfully petitioned Lorain County Juvenile Court to transfer Shepard's charges to adult court for trial, according to court records. Shayne, 14, was killed when a bullet passed through the wall of his family's home at Third and Chestnut streets in Elyria at about 5 a.m. on Sept. 12 and hit him in the chest. Following a monthlong investigation, Elyria police detectives announced in October that Shepard, then 16, and 18-year-old Jose Campos, of East 34th Street in Lorain, had been arrested in connection with the shooting. Elyria police said Shepard fired the fatal shot while Campos drove the alleged getaway car. Campos is facing 12 charges, including murder, felonious assault, improperly discharging a firearm into a habitation or school safety zone, discharge of a firearm on or near prohibited premises and tampering with evidence, in Judge Christopher Rothgery's courtroom. Campos is free on electronically monitored house arrest after posting a $100,000 bond. He has been ordered to stay away from the Edwards family and may only leave home for court hearings or medical appointments, Elyria Municipal Judge Robert White ruled in November. After Shayne's killing, Elyria Mayor Frank Whitfield — who knew the teen from when he volunteered for Whitfield's 2019 election campaign — met with the family and publicly called for greater action to stop youth gun violence.