Warrants Issued For Three Suspects In Murder Of Na'kia Crawford

Warrants have been issued for three suspects and Akron police have located the vehicle used in the murder of Na’kia Crawford.

The black Chevy Camaro was found in Cleveland, said Akron Deputy Police Chief Jesse Leeser at a Thursday press conference. The vehicle was located and transported to the Akron Police Department for processing.

Warrants were issued against 18-year-old Jaion Bivins, 24-year-old Janisha George and a 17-year old male suspect, Leeser said. All three suspects are from Summit County.

“Nothing will bring Na’kia Crawford back,” Leeser said. “But I hope that this will bring some small peace to the family and friends of Na’kia Crawford.”

Crawford was stopped at a red light at North and Howard streets in Akron’s Cascade Valley neighborhood on Sunday with her grandmother when a car pulled up beside her white Chevy Malibu and fired multiple shots into the side of her car.

Crawford died at a hospital later that day. Her grandmother was not injured.

The 17-year-old is charged with murder. George is charged with obstruction of justice, and Bivins is charged with obstruction of justice and tampering with evidence. The investigation is ongoing and Leeser said additional charges are possible.

The police know the identity of the car’s owner, Leeser said, and it was not stolen. But the department will not release the name at this time.

There is no indication the suspects knew Crawford prior to the incident on Sunday, Leeser said.

“Right now it appears this was a case of mistaken identity, that Na’kia Crawford was in the wrong place at the wrong time,” Leeser said.

Bivins is cooperating with the department, Leeser said, and is expected to turn himself in soon. Leeser implored the other two suspects to do the same at the press conference, which was also broadcast on Facebook Live.

“We believe that they are at least within the county,” Leeser said. “I am asking that they do call the Akron Police Department and arrange to turn themselves in.”