TOLEDO, Ohio — UPDATE: All three suspects -- Keith Hobbs, Kaveon Jones and Lupe Hernandez III -- charged in the incident have taken Alford pleas and are set to be sentenced on Sept. 8.
A defendant entering an Alford plea does not admit to committing a crime but admits the state has sufficient evidence to get a conviction that could lead to a more severe sentence.
The original story is below:
Three people were shot Monday in west Toledo during a funeral for a recent shooting victim and three teenage suspects have been charged following the incident.
The call came in around 10:10 a.m. as several units responded to River of Life Church on Upton Avenue, according to a press release from Toledo police.
Two of the victims are funeral home employees, the funeral director told WTOL 11 on the scene. One was shot in the leg and one was shot in the torso.
The funeral director also said Monday's funeral was for Lawrenczel Taylor III, who was shot and killed on Dec. 9. The director said the funeral was over and people were leaving when the shooting started.
The victims were identified by police as 64-year-old Gregory Harris, 73-year-old Eddie Moore and 47-year-old Rodney Taylor. All three were treated at the scene and transported to the hospital, where one of the men underwent surgery.
A "shooter or shooters" shot from a vehicle at the hearse carrying Taylor's body, according to police.
An officer heading to the scene spotted a vehicle matching the description of the suspect's vehicle. Two juvenile suspects exited the vehicle and fled on foot. One was arrested shortly after and the other suspects went into a nearby home. Detectives opened an investigation and the remaining suspects were arrested and charged.
Four suspects were arrested. Two 16-year-olds have been charged with three counts of felonious assault, and a 17-year-old has been charged with three counts of felonious assault and one count of receiving stolen property.
The fourth suspect was not charged.
WTOL 11 does not name juveniles charged with crimes unless they are charged as adults.
Following the shooting, WTOL 11 spoke with several residents, who wished to remain anonymous, and the assistant manager of a nearby Stop & Go.
Everyone said they're tired of the violence but admitted to having gotten used to it.
"It's nothing new to me because it wasn't too long ago, probably a month or so, there was a shooting right around the corner. Second house over. I was here the day that happened as well," said Clarissa Valdez, assistant manager of the Stop & Go at Loxley Road and Upton Avenue.
She was still disappointed to learn yet again just how close this incident was to the store.
"I see congestion, full of vehicles, and lo and behold I step outside," Valdez explained. "My parking lot was full I couldn't figure out why at first, but obviously something went down."
Valdez said she's worked at the Stop & Go for two years and personally hasn't had any issues with violence. But this rise in dangerous incidents admittedly does give her pause, especially since the incident happened at a funeral.
"It's too close to the holidays. I mean, let somebody mourn what they're supposed to in the first place," Valdez said. "My first thoughts were 'where is your conscience and where is the respect?'"
If you have any information regarding the shooting, you're asked to call Crime Stoppers at 419-255-1111. You can remain anonymous and may be eligible for a reward.