Savion McCall convicted of complicity to murder and felonious assault

A jury convicted Savion McCall of complicity to felonious assault and murder on Thursday. McCall, 22, of Lorain, was originally charged with murder, two counts of felonious assault, one count of discharging a firearm on or near a prohibited premises and tampering with evidence in the shooting death of Jessica Baker, who was shot in the back during a drive-by shooting near West 25th Street and Kelly Place in Lorain on Oct. 17, 2019. A jury unanimously found McCall not guilty on a murder charge, but guilty of complicity to commit murder. Similarly, they found him guilty of complicity in one count of felonious assault and discharging a firearm on or near prohibited premises. Under Ohio Law, someone can be charged with complicity for being involved in the commission of a crime, aiding in a crime, or soliciting someone to commit a crime. The jury had the option to convict on the original charges, or on complicity. The jury also found McCall guilty on a three-year firearm specification in relation to the complicity to commit murder charge; guilty of three-year and five-year firearm specification for the complicity to felonious assault charge; and guilty of a three-year firearm specification for the complicity to discharge a firearm on or near a prohibited premises. He was found not guilty of one count of felonious assault and tampering with evidence. After reading the verdict, Judge Jim Miraldi said Thursday was not a happy day for anyone involved. "It just shows the great harm that affects so many people when guns get in the wrong hands, especially with young folks," Miraldi said. Baker's mother, Victoria Wachholz, said she was happy with the jury's decision. "Everybody is losing here — I have sympathy for his family," Wachholz said, adding that they will "at least be able to still talk to Savion." "I really don't know how to feel," she said. "I'm numb." She said having the verdict does give her some closure, and she and her supporters plan to be at McCall's sentencing later this month. McCall's attorney Michael Stepanik said the verdict was disappointing. McCall's conviction was in connection with the drive-by shooting of a Chevrolet Impala driven by Lucas Williams, 21, of Lorain. McCall and Williams had argued and fought with one another before the drive-by that evening. After the arguments, McCall reportedly called Christian Marshall, 23, of Lorain, to pick him up from his girlfriend's house. Marshall contacted Baker, his girlfriend, who brought him a black bag with a 9 mm handgun in it and her stepfather's Jeep. The three then drove to West 25th Street and shots were fired into the Chevrolet Impala parked across from Williams' house. Two people who may have been in the car at the time of the shooting, Hannah Gfell and Jeremiah Blair, both of Lorain, were not injured. Marshall was convicted last fall of 11 felony charges, including murder and attempted murder. He was driving the Jeep when a shot, fired by Lucas Williams, 21, of Lorain, struck Baker and killed her. Miraldi sentenced Marshall to life with the possibility of parole after 34 to 38 years. Marshall appealed to the 9th District Court of Appeals in November. Williams pleaded guilty to manslaughter with a one-year firearm specification in September. McCall and Williams' sentencings are both March 15 in Miraldi's court. Contact Carissa Woytach at (440) 329-7245 or cwoytach@chroniclet.comcwoytach@chroniclet.com.