TOLEDO, Ohio — A Lucas County judge has handed down a sentence in the killing of a 10-year-old Toledo girl.
On Feb. 9, the two-year anniversary of Damia Ezell's death, Dearryl Cornelious, 21, was found guilty of aggravated murder, attempted murder, and a host of other charges.
In his nine-day-long trial, the prosecution found evidence to suggest Cornelious and his associate Byron Cleveland were attempting to kill Ezell's uncle, Kenneth White, in a drive-by shooting the morning of Feb. 9, 2022, firing 11 times into his vehicle on Collingwood Boulevard.
However, Damia was riding with him and was killed instead.
In their final statements Thursday morning, the prosecution pushed for the full life sentence for Cornelious.
"In doing so, we institute some feeling of justice to her family, her friends and her schoolmates," prosecuting attorney Jennifer Liptack-Wilson said. "But also to send a message to other individuals in our community similarly situated that this kind of violence can not be tolerated."
Cornelious' defense said the damage caused by this incident had been horrible for all parties, but made one request to the judge: the opportunity for parole.
"Which would give my client some hope, some positive motivation, so that when he does go down to the institution, he can do anything and everything he can to better himself," Cornelious' defense attorney, Phillip Carlisle said.
Judge Stacy Cook granted the request, giving Cornelius the opportunity for parole after 25 years. After handing out her sentence, she made a plea to the room.
"It's got to stop. The deaths of children, the fear of children, they can't play in their yards, they can't play in their schools," Cook said. "You can't want this for your kids."
Speaking on behalf of Damia's family, Shawn Mahone said that for the family, it's hard to call this a victory.
"They wanted justice and they received justice, and they were very happy to know he was found guilty, but it just took so much out of them because at the end of the day, no one wins," said Mahone.
Byron Cleveland was sentenced to at least 39 years in prison in this case. The prosecution stated they didn't believe Cornelious pulled the trigger, but just drove the car.
However, the prosecution believed that made him a willing and equal participant in Damia's death.